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Private bus owners slam bus imports on Indian credit 

06 Jul 2022

  • Say priority should not be importing 500 park-and-ride buses, but fuel supply and reduction of fares    
BY Buddhika Samaraweera The Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) has expressed displeasure over the Government’s decision to import 500 buses under the Indian credit line, to be deployed under the park-and-ride system in Colombo.  Speaking to The Morning yesterday (5), LPBOA President Gemunu Wijeratne said: “The Government has taken this decision when there are issues that should be given more priority than importing buses at this time. Anyone can understand that there is no point in importing new buses when even the buses in the country cannot get fuel. Therefore, the Government should first facilitate the buses in the country to get the fuel that they need.” He further mentioned that in view of the fact that the bus fares have increased by a large amount, even if a park-and-ride system is started, it will not be successful. He said that in order to popularise public transport among the people, their fares should be low. He said that in many countries, people are attracted to public transport through the provision of services at subsidised rates.  “People don’t go on buses and pay high fares when they have the ability to travel long distances comfortably using their vehicles. For example, a motorcycle can travel many kilometres using a few litres of fuel. Therefore, the park-and-ride system will only be successful if the bus fares are reduced. Bus fares should be reduced at least until enough fuel stocks reach the country,” he said. Minister of Transport and Highways Dr. Bandula Gunawardana had recently told the media that the Government was planning to import 500 buses under the Indian credit line, to be deployed under the park-and-ride system in Colombo. He had stated that these buses would ply on the busy Colombo roads starting from the park-and-ride spots which are places where passengers can park their private vehicles and use the public transport system.  


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