No rail fare hike - Minister

Irangika RANGE

The government has not taken any decision to increase rail fares, Transport Minister Kumara Welgama said.

However, the minister agreed that the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) bus fares should be revised when the private bus fare revision comes into effect from July 1.

"We hope to revise the SLTB bus fares in accordance with any decision taken by the National Transport Commission (NTC) in the near future," the minister said.

Minister Welgama said that private bus owners cannot increase bus fares independently without the authorization of the NTC. 'According to the national policy on bus fare, fares should be revised by July 1 each year," the minister further said.

In keeping with the provisions of the agreement for annual revisions agreed by both the NTC and private bus owners, bus fares could be raised after analyzing the 12 main features of the policy, including the revenue and expenditure of bus operators.

"We must adhere to the provisions of the agreement also considering practical issues faced by bus operators," he said. "We have to also think of the commuters," the minister said.

'If the Private Bus Owners Associations threaten to go on strike rejecting the annual bus fare revision approved by the NTC, the Railway Department and the SLTB will deploy additional buses and trains to meet commuter needs, the minister said.

Though the Railway Department incurs a loss of Rs. 4 billion annually, a decision to increase the rail fare has not been taken as yet considering the commuters," he added.