PUBLIC SEVERELY INCONVENIENCED DUE TO LACK OF BUS HALTING PLACES

Passengers, the public and drivers, are facing hardship for want of bus halting places along by-routes in Dehiwala, Moratuwa and Panadura areas. They pointed out that the buses stop haphazardly to board passengers standing by the roadside in front of their houses. The buses stopping at short intervals to squeeze in passengers often resulted in accidents and heavy traffic congestions.

Drivers of other vehicles said they were at the risk of knocking against the rear of the buses that stop all at once when they notice a passenger standing by the roadside. They pointed out that they would be held responsible for causing an accident by hitting the rear of a vehicle.

A trishaw driver Wimaladasa Suriyagoda (40) of Newdawa said, Panaduranewdawa road is a main bus route in the area, but any local authority has not paid attention on the need of bus halting places.

“This has created hardship to the passengers and the drivers of other vehicles. Buses often race against each other on these narrow roads to squeeze in passengers standing at every inch of the roadside in front of the houses. Overtaking is not possible in narrow roads..

A passenger standing on the opposite side of the road waves the bus to stop and runs across the road to board the bus regardless of its risk. These irregularities that calls for serious accidents are going on unchecked for want of bus halting places at regular intervals, ” he said.

A resident of Moratumulla area Wijesiri Alahendra (50) said the passengers travelling to railway stations and the main bus stand were under tension due to the delay of buses that stop at short intervals. He accused the local authorities of ignoring the need of halting places at regular intervals on by-routes.

“The bus that stops to board passengers standing in front of their houses has to stop to take in another standing a little distance away.

The people are used to this bad practice. Even the drivers of buses are ignorant of the extra consumption of fuel when they stop the buses at short intervals. When a bus is stopped all at once to board a passenger the vehicles behind it are running the risk of knocking against the rear of the bus,” he said.

Residents of Panadura and Moratuwa areas requested the relevant local authorities to install bus halting places on by-roads for convenience of the public and to prevent accidents.