The Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) and the Sri Lanka Railways have deployed extra fleets of buses and additional train services to meet the commuter demand during New Year holidays.

This service is in addition to the regular bus services and train services from the Central Bus Stand (CBS), Pettah and the Fort and Maradana railway stations to provincial destinations on the instructions of the Transport Minister Kumara Welgama for the convenience of commuters during the New Year holiday.

"We have already launched special bus services from CBS and other places for the people living in distant areas to reach their destinations. A punctual bus service is also being operated to benefit passengers shopping in the city of Colombo and suburbs during the festive season without hindrance, SLTB Chairman M D Bandusena told the Daily News.

Meanwhile, the long distance bus services have been strengthened to facilitate the commuters. The services are scheduled to commence from the Central Bus Stand in Pettah to every part of the country before the holiday weekend begins.

He said that steps have been taken to repair and deploy a large number of buses idling at islandwide bus depots for the special service.

"We have made arrangements to provide service without any delay," he said. The service for the return journey to Colombo after the holiday will also be provided with an equally effective public transport schedule," he said.

Meanwhile, Railway Department Planning Director Vijaya Samarasinghe said a 24 hour-special train service will be operative to provide transport to commuters during this period. These special train services are due to leave for several destinations from Colombo Fort railway station to several destinations.

The special train schedule is available at the Railway Stations so the commuters can plan their travelling in advance, he said.

"We have given priority for long distance train services to facilitate commuters to get to their homes," he said.

These special train services will be available for their return journey as well.

The special train service has already commenced and it will continue until January 2.

He said a special intercity train will commence from Colombo Fort to Bandarawela on December 29 and 31 at 8.35am. The return journey will commence from Bandarawela to Colombo Fort on December 30 and January 2 at 6.40 am.

Meanwhile, extra compartments have been added to the Galu Kumari train, and all other express trains.

In addiction, special goods trains to transport fuel and food items ahead of the festive season were deployed between Kolonnawa and Katunayake and among the several other railway stations of Peradeniya, Kurunegala, Batticaloa, Anuradhapura and Trincomalee.

Courtesy: DailyNews

Posted on Thursday, December 30, 2010 @ 07:46:24 LKT by SaNDuN

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