Double Deckers back on our roads
 

by Rajmi Manatunga

The Double Decker will be back on the roads again affording city commuters a ride in this once popular mode of transport following a decision by the Transport Ministry.

The buses will initially operate on city routes, a Central Transport Board (CTB) spokesman told the Daily News. The new service will be launched within the next two weeks initially with 17 double decker buses.

"These buses were donated by the United Kingdom to the Consumer Affairs Ministry which handed them over to the Transport Ministry to be used for public transport. They are now being painted and prepared for transporting passengers," he said.

One spokesman said eight of the 17 double deckers will be given to the Negombo CTB depot to be deployed on the Negombo-Colombo route while the Maharagama depot will also receive eight buses. One double decker will be provided for passenger transport in Jaffna.

The double decker last appeared on the country's roads some 25 years ago and was much popular among the school going fraternity.