Restrictions removed on luxury buses
Irangika Range and Sandasen Marasinghe
Transport Minister, Dullas Alahapperuma told Parliament yesterday
that the Government has decided to revoke regulations to relax
restrictions imposed in 1999 on the operations of air-conditioned luxury
buses.
|
Minister Alahapperuma |
The Minister said the air conditioned luxury bus service had
collapsed as a result of certain restrictions imposed.
"We have also lifted several route restrictions imposed on
air-conditioned buses," he said.
The Minister said the Government would take all possible steps to
protect and strengthen the private bus service as well as the public
transport service.
"The private bus industry with a huge amount of investment contribute
immensely to the local economy," Minister Alahapperuma said. Introducing
new regulations, the Minister said the number of luxury buses operating
in the country had decreased from about 2,000 to 700 due to the
restrictions.
According to the previous gazette regulations, only 40-seater buses
were allowed to operate for the luxury service.
With the relaxation of restrictions following requests of bus
operators, buses with less than 40 seats too can now operate. |
