Modernisation of national transport system
New elevated railway line between Maradana and Nugegoda
The entire public transport system in the country will be fully automated in the next couple of years with the Sri Lanka Railways (SLR) and the SLTB introducing the e-ticketing system and three domestic airports being modernized as regional airports, transport and Civil Aviation Minister Arjuna Ranatunga said.
The modernisation of the national transport system also includes the addition of a second terminal at a cost of US$500 million (Rs.85 billion approximately) to the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) Minister Ranatunga added.
Addressing the media at the Information Department yesterday Minister Ranatunga said, “This government has spent the most funds ever, to develop the national transport system but has not given any publicity to the work done.
“We would add 2,000 new buses including 50 super luxury buses to the SLTB fleet. Our concept is to provide the most comfortable bus ride for our passengers.we hope we could fulfill this with the arrival of these brand new buses.the SLTB requires a minimum of 8,000 buses to successfully compete with the private sector and with the strengthening and modernisation of the existing fleet, the SLTB would be in a position to do that”, Minister Ranatunga stressed.
A new elevated 10 kilometre rail-road will be constructed from Maradana to Nugegoda to ease the railway traffic congestion while further developing the Kelani Valley railway track up to Avissawella. tenders will be called to launch an e-ticketing project before the end of this year, the colour lights system in Colombo and suburbs will be modernised . Sri Lanka’s railway transport system slowly but steadily would move onto electric trains system from diesel powered trains in the years to come.the first electric train will operate to Avissawella from Fort shortly.
With the modernisation plan in place, a passenger will be able to travel to Jaffna from Fort in 5 hours and to Beliatta in three hours reducing the travel time by one hour each to respective destination.the domestic airports at Ratmalana, Palaly and Batticaloa will be modernised and upgraded as regional airports . Several rounds of talks have been held with India to run Mattala International Airport as a joint venture with Sri Lanka having the majority share.
The construction work on the proposed second terminal at the BIA would resume shortly after discussion with the Japanese embassy and the JAICA. On completion the second terminal will accommodate 9 million air passengers annually. Currently the BIA serves ten million air passengers annually but the maximum capacity is only 6 million air travellers, Minister Ranatunga noted.