New luxury buses from China

31 January 2012 10:22 am

New luxury buses imported from China will be introduced to six routes in the Colombo city this month (February) as part of a pilot project to promote public transportation to passengers who use private vehicles, the Transport Ministry said today.

Ministry officials said it would introduce low-floor, air conditioned buses and they will ply the following routes: Moratuwa-Pettah, Kesbewa-Pettah, Negombo-Pettah, Gampaha-Pettah, Kaduwela-Fort (via Malambe) and Homagama-Pettah routes. 

The new bus service will help reduce traffic and travel time and give greater comfort to commuters, officials said. As a pilot project two low-floor air conditioned buses, a Volvo and TATA had already been added to the Moratuwa-Pettah and Negombo-Pettah routes at a fare two and half times above the normal fare per passenger.

“Taking into account the higher passenger demand and overwhelming positive response received from the passengers on these two routes during trial operations, initiatives are now underway to operate eight low-floor air conditioned buses,” officials said.

The eight new buses provided by Micro Cars Ltd will be run by the Sri Lanka Transport Board and will run during peak hours in the morning and evening in 15 minute intervals. (Olindhi Jayasundere)