'No bus, train fare hike this year'

Irangika RANGE

Transport Minister Kumara Welgama said that there will be no hike in bus or train fares within this year.

The Minister said that the National Transport Commission (NTC) had not approved the bus fare hike sought by the Lanka Private Bus Owners' Association since it has already been agreed not to increase bus fares this year.

"The decision was taken collectively with the private bus operators considering several factors such as fuel prices, spare parts, maintenance cost, etc," the Minister said. Under the agreement signed between the NTC and the private bus operators, bus fare revisions are scheduled in July each year and a fare hike can be considered only next July.

The major aim of the Government to provide a quality transport system to commuters with the assistance of private bus operators.

"Our objective is to make the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) and Sri Lanka Railways (SLR) profitable State organizations," he said. As a result of repairing dilapidated buses at islandwide depots, we have been able to increase the SLTB bus fleet upto 5,200 which was only 4,800 a few months ago. It has been planned to add another 2000 new buses to the existing CTB fleet in future.

The fleet of locomotive engines in running condition has been increased to 73 from 38 currently. Meanwhile, plans are afoot to increase goods and oil transport by rail to bring more revenue to the Railway.