Minister of Transport, Highways and Mass Media Dr. Bandula Gunawardena states that structural changes will be made from June 15 for the betterment of the transport sector.
He was speaking at a discussion held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute recently with heads of institutions under the Ministry of Transport, Highways and other experts in the field to discuss speedy solutions to the current public transport problems in the country.
They also discussed a number of short-term measures to be taken to address the current fuel crisis in Sri Lanka and the issues faced by commuters. Accordingly, decisions were taken to improve the use of transport for day-to-day activities as well as office train and bus services, school transport and essential transport services (ambulances etc.) for essential services within a few days.
The Minister also pointed out that steps should be taken to transport more passengers with less fuel consumption in the transport sector which is suffering from the fuel crisis and instructed the respective sectors to take the necessary measures expeditiously.
Accordingly, it has been decided to improve transport activities under several sections by June 15.
These include more effective re-enforcement of lane rules, launch of park and ride services at Kadawatha, Makumbura, Katubedda Multiple Transport Centres, promotion of bicycle use and introduction of parallel lanes for cyclists, including new office trains, providing a petrol station in the Bastian Mawatha area reserved for buses, adding more compartments to the existing trains, implementing park and ride service at identified railway stations including Panadura, Ragama, and providing new buses for student tours and rural services.
These decisions will be implemented from June 15 to address the transportation problems of the entire passenger population and to work together to ensure that the fuel problem is addressed and that all possible steps are taken to further improve transportation in the future.
The discussion was attended by Prof. Amal Kumarage of the University of Moratuwa, Professors and lecturers, senior officials of the Ministry of Transport and Highways and Provincial Transport Authority.
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