President proposes Park and Drive system to ease traffic congestion

22 May 2020 11:51 am - 15 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday proposed to immediately implement Park and Drive method to ease the heavy traffic congestion.

President’s Media Division said that considering heavy traffic congestion on roads during morning and evening hours of weekdays, the President highlighted the necessity of attracting those who are traveling to work in their own vehicles to the public transport system to ease the heavy traffic congestion on roads.

During a discussion held at the Presidential Secretariat to review the current status of SLTB, the President has mooted a set of proposals to transform Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) into a profit-earning and leading entity.

A dedicated school bus service for children should be promoted while giving priority to the safety of children, the President said.

It was discussed to paint the school busses in yellow and give preference to school buses on roads. President Rajapaksa emphasized the importance of colour coding for private and SLTB buses.

Appropriate measures to encourage employees, new strategies, minimize wastage and put an end to corruption were the other areas that came under discussion during the session.

In addition, the President highlighted the necessity of conducting regular assessments and researches with regard to the improvement of the institute.

President added that around 4500 highly-skilled mechanics are working for the SLTB and their expertise could be utilized for outside maintenance work thereby earning an additional income for the government.

President pointed out that the SLTB possesses unutilized land across the country and proper management of them could earn an extra income too.

President Rajapaksa added that the SLTB is capable of transporting agricultural crops from remote areas to the suburbs benefitting both farmers and the consumers equally. He went on to note the significance of improving the standards of Training Schools and enhancing the knowledge of the employees at Training Schools simultaneously. President Rajapaksa advised the entire process should move forward with short, mid and long term strategies.

Secretary to the President, P.B Jayasundera, Chairperson of the Sri Lanka Transport Board, Kingsley Ranawaka, CEO, Sagara Heman Waduge, Director General (Public Enterprises), Athula Kumara, including several other Director Board members were present at the meeting.

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Comments - 15

Makanal Friday, 22 May 2020 12:08 PM

Very welcome thoughts. Please also consider providing parking facilities at low cost at railway stations in the outskirts and away for those travelling to Colombo daily or weekly.

varuna Friday, 22 May 2020 02:19 PM

Yeah. Good "thoughts" but with little practicality.

Andrew Silva Friday, 22 May 2020 12:17 PM

Presidents idea is excellent the exact action he has taken. He parked in America for 15 years and now he is driving in Sri Lanka.

Jude Friday, 22 May 2020 12:19 PM

Driving bit of a problem!! However, parking is humongous problem in the city!! Yeah!!

Mohanan Friday, 22 May 2020 12:26 PM

To attract the upper classes to the Park and Drive system, the quality of train and bus services (including punctual service) should be improved and over-crowding of trains and buses during peak hours should be reduced by adding extra trains and buses during those hours. Should expedite the LRT.

BigEars Friday, 22 May 2020 12:35 PM

These have been tried and failed and we do not have such an infrastructure. Just big talk off a teleprompter.

Jude Friday, 22 May 2020 12:37 PM

Elevated Railway aka Overhead Railway is ideally BEST solution!! With a narrow-guage train as a rapid transit system!! They wil be less costly to build, equip and operate!!!

Jude Friday, 22 May 2020 12:48 PM

Ask OUR Chinese friends to provide funds to build a Elevated Railway rapid transit system!!

Roshan Friday, 22 May 2020 01:07 PM

Please set up parkig fascilities near Kelaniya Rail station and Kiribathgoda. Also jusy put a 24 hour rail bus at unused 4 lane from Kelaniya to Dematagoda. Huge congestion at Kelani Bridge can be released.

Nalin Friday, 22 May 2020 01:38 PM

Minimise the use of government vehicles and allocation of official vehicles. Sell the excess and buy trains. Traffic will reduce.

Sokrates Friday, 22 May 2020 01:44 PM

"4500 highly-skilled mechanics are working for the SLTB and their expertise could be utilized for outside maintenance work thereby earning an additional income for the government." True highly-skilled mechanics are working for the private sector or abroad. The mechanics who are working for the SLTB are only second class and lazy. Of course they will do not do outside work for the government.

Ajith77 Friday, 22 May 2020 02:18 PM

SLTB should import and deploy Low floor air conditioned buses. You cannot attract people to these "lorry buses"

King Saturday, 23 May 2020 09:27 AM

Sokrates. You said it. There are no highly skilled mechanics in the CTB. Those days are over. These are all political appointments. Most are a bunch of bludgers wasting tax payers money

Samson de silva Saturday, 23 May 2020 10:33 AM

Good idea to have yellow-colored buses for school children, After all, that's what they are in native America. Also, good idea to color code vehicles. Just wondering for whom the white-colored vans will be.

Udaya Wijekoon Saturday, 23 May 2020 12:57 PM

They should also have bus only lanes to attract more people to public transport during peak hours.

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President proposes Park and Drive system to ease traffic congestion

Comments - 15

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