Sri Lanka Railways Forum

The recent parcel fare increase by the Sri Lanka Railway (SLR) is not adequate, General Manager of Railways (GMR) Dr. Lalithasiri Gunaruwan said.

According to the GMR, the latest price increase in goods transportation is insufficient to meet the high expenditure on railway maintenance.

“The SLR parcel fare increase in August or September this year is not adequate to meet the high expenditure. Although the transportation price hike was on the cards from 2002 we could implement it only this year. I thoroughly justify the price hike without which we are unable to maintain a satisfactory service for the public. Though the price increase was by around 20% – 50% this is not sufficient to meet our demands,” Dr. Gunaruwan told The Morning Leader.

“If you take the present parcel fare rates it is very much lower than the other ways of transporting parcels. This is the first time in two years the Railway Department increased its parcel fare. We are doing a very satisfactory service at a much lower rate and the general public should not question us as to why we increased the prices,” Dr. Gunaruwan added.

When queried from when the SLR was planning to increase the passenger fares the GM said that there were no immediate plans to increase the fares. “It is only the SLR that transports passengers at such a low price. For a 1km train ride the SLR charges only 48 cents. Believe it or not this is the exact rate the SLR charges from a commuter.

“Although the country’s private transport system charges more from the commuters they do not contribute towards the maintenance of roads or colour lights. But the SLR has to maintain its own railway tracks, bridges and traffic control for which the SLR has to spend enormously. It is this that has contributed towards a loss,” Dr. Gunaruwan further stated.

Source: The Morning Leader

Tags: bridges, commuters, gmr, goods transportation, parcels, passenger fares, price hike, private transport, railway maintenance, satisfactory service, traffic control, transport system

                            

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