A sustainable national policy for transport

COLOMBO: Transport is a vital sector in the development process. Realising the ever increase in demand for a better transport service - the Transport and Railway Ministry has initiated many programmes to provide a better and qualitative service in keeping with the promises made though the 'Mahinda Chintanaya', which has an enormous public endorsement.

The Transport Ministry has taken steps to draft a National Transport Policy to regularise and improve the transport sector. It is scheduled to be published next year after consulting the views of the public and obtaining the approval of the Cabinet.

The Ministry is also drawing up plans to provide fuel to public transport services including buses, trains and three-wheelers at a concessionary price. The report of the committee appointed to look into the proposal has been sent to the National Planning Department for observations.

Strengthening the State transport sector by adding 5,000 new buses

Around 803 new TATA and Ashok Leyland buses have been imported from India to be added to the state bus service. Of this, 620 buses have already been added to the operational fleet of the SLTB while another 613 buses will be purchased under the Indian Credit Line by the end of this year.

The Ministry has decided to bring down another fleet of 584 buses in 2007 from the Joint Fund.

Accordingly, 2,000 buses are expected to be added to the State bus service.

Time tables for the passenger bus service

In a bid to provide an efficient and quality bus service to commuters and ensure equal opportunities to all bus operators, the Ministry has launched a programme to introduce new time tables for the bus service.

Accordingly, bus operations on 16 routes have so far been rescheduled, while new time tables will be implemented on another four routes within this year. The Ministry plans to implement new time tables on 10 routes every three months in the year 2007.

'Gemi Seriya', 'Sisu Seviya' and 'Nisi Seviya'

In keeping with the pledge made in the Mahinda Chintanaya, the Ministry has initiated a programme to provide a systematic and affordable transport service to people living in remote areas of the country.

Under the programme titled 'Gemi Seviya', transport services were commenced on 10 remote routes. The Ministry aims to expand the service to 25 other routes in 2007.

The 'Sisu Seviya' program seeking to provide a comfortable, punctual and low cost ride to schoolchildren and teachers was also implemented successfully in 2006. While 70 new school services were commenced this year, the Ministry expects to initiate 100 other school transport services next year.

The absence of public transport facilities in the night is a frequent concern voiced by bus commuters. Addressing this problem, the Ministry has taken steps to encourage bus owners to operate buses in the night by providing a concession to those who do so. As a result, night bus services were launched on 30 routes by September this year. Another 20 night bus services are to be commenced in 2007.

In addition, the Ministry has taken steps to organise meetings between provincial transport authorities and the private bus operators to discuss different problems faced by the latter. Cabinet approval was also obtained for the Dr. P. B. Jayasundere report which seeks to address these problems.

Concessions for senior citizens

With a view to ensure the welfare of the senior citizens of the country, the Ministry, in line with the Mahinda Chintanaya, has decided to issue bus seasons at half the normal fare to senior citizens recommended by the Divisional Secretary of the relevant area. The programme will commence as a pilot project next month in 'Gama Neguma' divisional secretariats islandwide.

It has also been decided to provide a free railway pass to senior citizens annually from December 2006 to participate in pilgrimages.

The railways sector

The Government has decided to declare a Railway Development decade from 2006 to 2016. During the relevant period, the Transport Ministry aims to increase passenger transport from six per cent to 10 per cent, goods transport from one to 10 per cent and take several other steps to develop the railway sector.

Improvement of the Main railway line

The report for the development of the Colombo-Kandy main railway line including the Kandy-Gampola-Kadugannawa railway triangle has been finalised and forwarded to the National Planning Department.

Under the programme, it has been proposed to construct a double railway line between Kandy and Peradeniya, set up an electronic signal system and build additional commuter platforms in Pilimatalawa and Geli Oya. The Ministry plans to seek foreign funds for the project.

It has also been proposed to build a new railway line to Mihintale parallel to the main road, in addition to the existing railway line. The Department expects to extend the railway line later to Horowpathana and Trincomalee.

A special train service is planned between Colombo and the Bandaranaike International Airport at a cost of Rs 156 million. The construction of the railway line will start next year by Wangshu Railcar Company. The project is expected to be completed in two years.

Plans are under way to improve the railway line from Trincomalee to Batticaloa. The project is currently been considered by a project assessment committee.

The construction of railway bridges at Chilaw, Ja-Ela, Pinwatte and Rambukkana have been completed. Since September 2005, 212 speed limits on railway lines have been removed with a view to provide a faster ride to commuters.

Train services for schoolchildren have been commenced on the main, coastal, Chilaw and Kelani Valley railway lines while joint train-bus services have been arranged in several places including Hatton, Kalutara, Nanu Oya, Kollupitiya, Galle, Matara and Veyangoda.

The income earned by the Railways Department from September 2005 to September 2006 is Rs 313 million.

The Motor Traffic Department

A simplified vehicle registration system was introduced by the Motor Traffic Department in 2006. Steps were also taken to take the Vehicle Licensing Unit and two other sections of the department to the Werahera office premises. A new office complex is also to be constructed in Werahera.

The computerised system of the Department was linked with that of the Customs Department to facilitate faster access to information regarding imported vehicles.

The tender for the printing of the newly introduced driving licence has been awarded to a competent company to expedite the licence issuing process. Five district branches of the Department were computerised and linked with the head office.