It will be made mandatory for all passenger transport buses plying on High Level Road to go through Makumbura Multimodal Transport Centre, Kottawa, from March 1 to prevent buses from picking up and dropping off passengers irregularly from various places in Kottawa.
Transport, Highways, and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardana, speaking at a press conference held at the Ministry Auditorium yesterday, said that a number of complaints have been received on various occasions that passenger transport buses have been running by avoiding the Kottawa Multi-Modal Transport Centre. Road accidents have increased and a dangerous situation has arisen as a result of passenger transport buses picking and dropping passengers at various places in Kottawa.
After long discussions with the relevant parties including the Transport and Highways Ministry, the Traffic Police, and the National Transport Commission on the complaints received on various occasions, it has been decided to make it mandatory for all passenger transport buses to pass through the Makumbura Multi-Modal Transport Centre from March 1,” the Minister said.
According to Section 106-6 of the Motor Vehicles Act No. 40 of 1984, illegal parking of vehicles for picking up and dropping off passengers on the road in front of the Kottawa Multi-Modal Transport Centre on High Level Road will be strictly prohibited.
It has been stipulated that all the passenger transport buses travelling on that route must enter the Multi-Modal Transport Centre and pass through it. This law applies to all government and private sector buses and the Sri Lanka Transport Board has been officially informed about this writing. Private buses have also been informed about this law through the National Transport Commission. If there is anyone who does not comply with these rules, a formal investigation will be conducted and the relevant bus permit will be revoked.
More than 500,000 vehicles enter Colombo daily through seven main roads. The Kottawa Multi-Modal Transport Centre has been built with state-of-the-art facilities at a cost of Rs. 2,600 million with the aim of reducing the number of vehicles entering Colombo, strengthening public transport including buses and trains, reducing road accidents, and ensuring passenger safety and environmental protection. Based on its success, the construction of the multi-modal transport centre that is being built in Kadawatha is about 90 percent complete.
Addressing the press conference, National Transport Commission Chairman Shashi Welgama said that this law which will be implemented from March 1 providing remedies to many problems in the passenger transport sector, will be important. Mobile inspection teams and the Traffic Police will also be assisted to take necessary legal action to identify the people who do not comply with this law.
Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of traffic Indika Hapugoda said that blocking the main road, and illegally picking up and dropping off passengers blocking the road will be considered an offence from March 1 and therefore the bus drivers and conductors should take care to implement this law.
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