Sri Lanka to strengthen public transportation to ease traffic congestion

Sri Lanka will strengthen its public transportation sector to ease traffic congestion on its roads by next year, the Finance Ministry said here Friday.

A light railway system will be introduced in capital Colombo and its suburbs, where vehicle speeds have now reduced to 8 kilometers per hour from 40 to 60 kilometers per hour in 1980.

Separate lanes for public buses will also be introduced in Colombo under a proposed mechanism to streamline public bus service within city limits.

"Plans are already afoot to launch the construction of two new roads, one between New Kelani Bridge and Athurugiriya and, the second road between Kelani Bridge and Colombo Port in next year," the Ministry said.

"One of the main concerns of the plan is to identify seven entry points to the city and start a light railway system from each point. This new light railway system will cover the main suburbs," the Ministry added.

The Ministry further said that another project will be launched to upgrade the existing railway lines in order to reduce the number of buses entering daily to the city.

Accordingly, Kelani Valley Railway line will be extended up to Rathnapura and an additional line will be constructed between Polgahawela and Kurunegala.

The total vehicle population in Sri Lanka has risen from 3,390,993 in 2008 to 6,302,141 in 2015. About 250,000 vehicles enter the Colombo city daily and this number increases annually by 25,000. Endit