Sri Lanka’s President pushes for the development of the transport sector
Sri Lanka’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has called for the public transport sector to be more efficient and the country’s Transport Ministry is now looking at setting up a park and ride system, prepaid cards and combined timetables.
President Rajapkasa as a first step has directed the Transport Ministry officials to clean up the seating facilities in public transport, a statement from the President’s Media Division (PMD) stated.
Rajapaksa has also directed officials to examine the possibility of allowing ordinary (non-luxury) buses in good condition to operate on the expressways to make travel on those roads more affordable to the public.
“A small step will lead to a big change. Start cleaning buses and provide seating facilities to passengers from tomorrow itself,” the statement quoted Rajapaksa as telling the Transport Ministry officials during a discussion.
The proposed park and ride system is expected to reduce traffic congestion in the city, similar to systems used in some developed countries, the statement has noted, adding that allowing commuters to leave their vehicles in a parking lot and transfer to connected public transport facilities.
Sri Lanka had previously proposed to implement two park-and-ride systems for Gampaha and Colombo Districts in 2012.
“Although the Transport Board provides bus transportation as a service, it should be transformed into an entity that doesn’t make losses,” Rajapaksa has said.
“Both public and private transport sectors must pay closer attention to the bus service in rural areas,” he has added.
OSL take:
Given the interest of Sri Lanka’s President to develop the country’s transport sector, there’s a host of areas that present business/investment opportunities. The President has proposed a park and ride system and called for the introduction of technology to the public transport sector. All these programmes as well as the establishment of supplementary infrastructure offers many business opportunities to the discerning investor.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/21082020/Z_3 |