An integrated transport plan has been implemented by the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB), the Department of Railways and the Road Passenger Transport Authority to ensure transport facilities for the people leaving for their villages for the Sinhala and Tamil New Year.
This plan, implemented by the National Transport Commission, is divided into pre and post New Year period.
National Transport Commission Acting Director General Nayomi Jayawardena yesterday said that about 1.3 million passengers are expecting transportation services during the pre New Year period. “To ensure hassle free transport to the people leaving for their villages, five corridors have been identified from Colombo city to Puttalam, Dambulla, Kandy, High Level and Galle, she said.
Speaking at a press conference held at the Government Information Department under the patronage of Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana yesterday, Jayawardena said an additional fleet of buses is maintained to ensure maximum of 700 additional trips.
She said a number of buses on highways have been increased. She said that Expressway bus services starting from Makumbura Central Bus Station and Bastian Mawatha, Kaduwela, Kadawata and Nawinna areas have been increased to 150 additional journeys.
“In addition, the Sri Lanka Transport Board has started special bus service from Central Bus Stand in Pettah, Makumbura Multimodal Bus Stand in Kottawa and the Kadawatha Bus Stand. She added that a fleet of 1,000 buses have been put into operation even though 700 to 730 buses run on other days.
She also added that the number of buses plying on from these stands has been increased to 1,400 from April 14. In the meantime, steps have been taken to increase the number of trains that run on a daily basis.
Accordingly, two trips per day have been increased to Badulla from Colombo, from Badulla to Colombo, Trincomalee and Batticaloa as well as from Anuradhapura to Jaffna.
Speaking on the occasion, Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana said that for the first time in the history of the Railway, a Calixo train is running from Badulla to Demodara and the people can make use of this service at a special concessional price of Rs. 1,000 during the New Year season.
The Minister also said that it is possible to take the children on the roofless train to give them a new experience during the school holidays. The Minister also said that he would like to express his gratitude to all the public and private organizations who worked to implement this integrated transport service for the people.
“Facilities have been provided at the passenger terminals. The 1990 ambulance service has been deployed. Also drinking water and places to stay have been arranged. Mobile inspection teams have been deployed at five locations to inspect buses in case of any need. The hotline 1955 is open 24 hours a day. A Whatsapp number 0712 595555 has been introduced for complaints from the public regarding public transport service,” National Transport Commission Acting Director General Nayomi Jayawardene said.
Nuwan Kodikara and Subashini Senanayake