Transport zone in Pettah

Irangika Range

The Government has taken action to transform the areas covering the Fort Railway station, Central bus stand and Bastian Mawatha private bus stand as a transport zone to help the public.

According to the plan, the Fort Railway station, Central bus stand and the private bus stand at Bastian Mawatha will be brought under one roof to fulfill the transport needs of commuters.

A Transport Ministry spokesman told the Daily News that the Central Bus stand has already been renovated under this plan.

Renovations are under way to upgrade the Bastian Mawatha private bus stand at a cost of Rs.15 million.

The management of the private bus stand on Bastian Mawatha belonging to the Transport Ministry has been taken over by the National Transport Commission.

All long distance bus services (inter provincial level) that started from Gunasinghapura bus stand earlier are currently starting from Bastian Mawatha stand.

He said that all short distance bus services are currently commencing from the Gunasinghapura private bus stand which operated the long distance bus services earlier.

Following a Cabinet memorandum submitted by Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma, the project is being implemented to solve the long-standing problem faced by commuters who had to go two places to catch their buses earlier, he said.

Under the plan, two flyovers will be constructed linking Central Bus stand to Bastian Mawatha private bus stand and Bastian Mawatha private bus stand to Fort Railway station to facilitate the commuters.

The Bastian Mawatha private bus stand is being developed as a one stop shop with all modern facilities with trade stalls and direct access to the Fort Railway station, he said.

He said that passenger terminals and rest rooms for both commuters and employees of the bus stand are being constructed newly under the Bastian Mawatha private bus stand renovation project.