The bus routes to hell

Ms Kamalawathie Sameer Talawathugoda

As a regular commuter on the two bus routes 154 and 135, I would like to bring to the attention of the Transport Minister the hardships passengers have to endure. The buses are fully packed any time of the day and the bus crew keep shouting at the passengers to make way for more passengers and find some space that doesn’t even exist. The passengers are not given the correct change money nor are tickets issued. Music blares at an unbearable volume. Fully loaded buses stop and wait at selected bus halts for an extended period. Drivers are on their mobile phones most of the time. Please give priority to address these issues and make our ride a hassle free one as far as possible. Ravindra Perera Via email

There was a report that as many as 25 vehicles used by previous VIPs are to be sunk in the sea to prevent them being bought by underworld characters at a public auction. It is not clear who suggested this wonderful but idiotic measure. Who is going to handle the sinking and where? Can these facts be hidden from the underworld maestros who have connections at the top in all parties?

I wish to suggest a better solution. The engines of these vehicles are built to last. They can be taken out and fitted to water pumps. What the fuel is, is immaterial. If they are petrol engines the operational cost will be higher as petrol is taxed heavily. But the real cost to the country will be the same as if they were Diesel engines. All that is needed is to find suitable centrifugal water pumps and make the mountings locally. As we will have to live with the drought this will be a good way to supply ground water in needy areas.

The next question is what is to be done with the body? As they are armored sheets they should be cut up using gas welding and then crushed and melted. I hope the three ton Steel Furnace at the Ceylon Steel Corporation is still usable. If not the steel has to be cut up and melted with cast iron. The glass must not be left alone, it can be cut and given to the Army or the Navy with proper documentation for every square inch. Else it should be crushed. The wheels and gear box and suspension can be used for some purpose as they are in all probability standard components. A solution is to give them to the Engineering Universities and Technical College. It is worthwhile that our youth learn about these advanced vehicles as the knowledge can be used for the betterment and not for underworld activities. We know that there was an engineer who was also found guilty of some criminal activity. But these are rare cases.

Lastly the comfortable seats; just fix them in the Railway stations with prominence. Even a pay and sit system might earn some revenue to the Railway.

I hope that this suggestion will be taken up by the Minister of Science and Technology. Prof. P.A.de Silva Via email