Southern expressway:

Passenger transport to commence

Irangika RANGE

Two super luxury Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB)buses and two super luxury private buses will initially ply the new Southern expressway.

A National Transport Commission (NTC) spokesman said five applications were selected out of 30 sent by private bus owners as part of the competitive tender process by the NTC.

'As an initial step, we have decided to deploy two private buses for transporting passengers on the Southern highway.

'New time tables for the highway have already been prepared. The NTC has also fixed at Rs 350 the price of a one way ticket in luxury buses that ply between Galle and Kottawa on the Southern Expressway. It has been proposed to operate express and 'limited-stop' bus services between the two destinations. He said that all facilities to tow breakdown vehicles, fuel stations and emergency assistance have been but in place in different locations. In addition a fire fighting unit and special ambulance service with a medical crew will also be stationed.

Vehicles could enter the expressway through eleven interchanges which are located at places where the expressway crosses major roads/highways.

Interchanges in major destinations are Makumbura to Kotte and Dehiwela, Kahatuduwa to Moratuwa, Gelanigama to Panadura and Wadduwa, Dodangoda to Kalutara and Matugama, Lewwanduwa to Beruwala and Bentota, Kurundugahahetekma to Balapitiya and Ambalangoda, Nayapamula to Hikkaduwa, Pinnaduwa to Galle, Deegoda to Weligama, Kokmaduwa to Weligama and Godagama to Matara.

All these access points would have toll collecting centres.

He said SLTB will be given the route allocation of 40 percent while private buses will be granted the balance 60 percent of route allocations.