Fowzie keen to re-start night bus service

RAILWAYS, Transport, Petroleum and Petroleum Resource Development Minister A.H.M. Fowzie stressed the need to start night services on bus routes in keeping with commuter needs when he met SLTB officials and Depot Managers of the Gampaha Cluster Bus Company at the Kadawata Depot on Thursday.

The Minister said there was no doubt that it would be economically unviable to operate a night bus service without adequate passengers but the state had to bear that loss in the interests of the commuter public as a social service.

Minister Fowzie who described the re-establishment of the CTB as a victory for the people said the SLTB should be built up on a firm foundation to enable it to cater to the needs of the travelling public efficiently. He also said that special emphasis should be laid on improving rural bus services.

The minister who also inspected the Kadawata Depot Bus Fleet during his visit observed that 30 new buses allocated to the Depot had been equipped with single seats to facilitate short distance operation.

The Minister directed officials to redesign 5 of these buses in a manner suitable for operation on long distances.

Minister Fowzie who also requested the depot managers to ensure that their depots showed profits within three months warned that he would be reluctantly compelled to change the managements which failed to do so.

Transport Deputy Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna and SLTB Chairman Tudor Dayaratne accompanied the Minister during the visit.