The government has introduced several public transport services, including the Park-and-Ride system, today (15).
Minister of Transport and Highways Bandula Gunawardana told the media that the new public transport services are being introduced in a bid to help the public face the increasing fuel costs and shortages in the country.
“Due to the increase in fuel prices, we need to make the public transport system more efficient and productive in order to provide relief to the public. Thus, we have introduced several new services,” he said.
Following are the new public transport systems introduced by the government:
The Park-and-Ride system
Those arriving in their private vehicles to Makumbura, Katubedda, and Kadawatha through the highway will be able to park their vehicles and commute via luxury bus to Colombo city. From 6.30 a.m. to 8 a.m., these buses will operate every 10 minutes, while from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., they will operate every 15 minutes from Colombo city. During the intermediate times, they will operate on an hourly basis.
New luxury train service
The luxury train service will operate daily from Colombo to Kandy, starting at 5.20 a.m. from Colombo. Every evening, it will travel back from Kandy at 4.50 p.m.
Daily train for office workers
The daily train for office workers will be introduced from the Waga Train Station to Colombo, scheduled to arrive at the Colombo Fort Station at 8.12 a.m. and leave Colombo Fort at 4 p.m.
Weekend luxury train
The train will operate from Colombo to Jaffna, starting this week. A night train will leave Mount Lavinia every Friday at 10 p.m. and leave Jaffna, every Sunday, at 10 p.m.
The Anuradhapura-Colombo train, which has already started its trial run, will be made permanent, thus allowing passengers to take the train daily from Anuradhapura at 3.45 a.m. or from Colombo at 4.15 a.m.
Bus services
20 new school buses will enter Colombo from today. The number of buses is expected to be increased to 50 in a month.
Cycling lane
Measures are underway to introduce a cycling lane along Marine Drive soon. (NewsWire)