CTB fleet to be raised to 6,000
 

RAJMI Manatunga

COLOMBO: The Transport Ministry will increase the operational fleet of the State-run bus service to 6,000 within the next six months.

This will be achieved by purchasing 2,000 new buses from India and by repairing unroadworthy buses of the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB), Transport Minister A.H.M. Fowzie said.

The Minister said they have already commenced a special programme to repair unroadworthy buses for which the Government has allocated Rs 100 million.

"The decision to increase the State bus fleet is not aimed at breaking down the private bus sector. Our objective is to provide a better service to commuters by upgrading the State bus service to a competitive level," he said.

The present bus fleet of the State-run bus service is less than 4,000 while the number of private buses operating throughout the country is around 16,000.

Meanwhile, three new buses were handed over to the Homagama depot by Minister Fowzie yesterday. The buses will be operated from Meepe, Wewelpanawa and Ingiriya to Colombo.