Priority bus lanes launched

Based on the experience gained from the ‘Priority Bus Lanes’ now in operation, it will be expanded to other major cities where traffic congestion is rampant, Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said yesterday.

He said an express long distance bus service would be introduced to further ease traffic snarls on main roads.

The minister ceremonially launched the ‘Priority Bus Lanes’ project at the Kurusa Handiya in Moratuwa last morning and said he expected the new traffic arrangement would not only ease traffic congestion and road accidents and save fuel and the time taken to travel from one point to another. All private and SLTB buses travelling to Colombo along Galle Road will be restricted to the lane on the far left from ‘Kurusa Junction’ at Moratuwa to Katubedda Junction and from Savoy Cinema Junction at Wellawatta to Bambalapitya Junction from yesterday to August 22.

From August 22 it would be imposed on buses travelling from Katubedda Junction to Maliban Junction and from Bambalapitiya Junction to Pittala Junction.

The similar method of travel will apply to Battaramulla Road from Polduwa Junction (Diyatha Uyan) to Ayurveda Junction and Town Hall Roundabout to Thumulla Junction from August 29 from 6.00 am to 9.00 am. and along Olcott Mawatha from Technical Junction to Pettah and Kompannaweediya and from September 12 from Kompannaweediya to Pettah and from November 30 from Maradana to Borella. “A ‘Light Rail Transit (LRT) system is on the pipeline to further ease traffic snarls in Colombo and the suburbs. The Kelani Valley line will be converted to a dual track while introducing an electric trains to the national transport system despite claims by many that traffic congestion in Sti Lanka can not be solved,” the minister said.

The minister ceremonially launched the ‘Priority Bus Lanes’ project at the Kurusa Handiya in Moratuwa last morning and said he expected the new traffic arrangement would not only ease traffic congestion and road accidents and save fuel and the time taken to travel from one point to another

PIC BY KITHSIRI DE MEL The minister is seen handing over a leaflet to a private bus driver on ‘Priority Bus Lanes’ at the launching of the project.

PIC BY KITHSIRI DE MEL The minister is seen handing over a leaflet to a private bus driver on ‘Priority Bus Lanes’ at the launching of the project.