Cabinet ramps up public transport

Thursday, 27 April 2017 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Cabinet has approved the move to extend the priority bus lane scheme in select but popular routes or roads.

The Government said the allocation of a priority bus lane was implemented as a pilot project along Parliament Road from 12-23 March 2017 with the assistance of the Korean International Cooperation Agency and it shows a positive outcome in reducing traffic congestion.

Accordingly, the proposal made by Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka to expand this concept further and take action to persuade the middle class to use public transport services by improving their quality was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

1.Implementation of priority bus lanes on following road sections during busy hours:

nMoratuwa-Ratmalana, Wellawatta-Kollupitiya along Galle Road

nFrom Parliament Junction to Rajagiriya, Borella, Maradana, Pettah and Colombo Fort along Parliament Road

nFrom roundabout in Chiththampalam A. Gardiner Mawatha to Pettah

nThummulla Junction to Museum Junction

nEye Hospital Roundabout to Thummulla Junction

2.Promote importation of low-floor air-conditioned buses through concessionary loan schemes

3.Prepare a common ticketing system with electronic card payment facilities

4.Improvement of three-wheeler/taxi parking facilities