Developments in the Transport Sector
The demand for transport services will continue to increase with them national economic growth and regional development processes.
The contribution of the Transport sector to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country was 8.2% in 2006.
Buses and private vehicles are the main means of land transport, accounting for 94% of the total passenger transportation. Railways provide the remaining 6%. As far as freight transport is concerned, road transport accounts for 98% of the movement of goods while the remaining 2% is carried by railway.
Bus services account for 68% of the total passenger transport in the country. The contribution of the State-owned bus services is 23% while the remaining portion is provided by private bus operators. The Government’s focus is to increase capacity, quality and efficiency of bus services.
With the aim of increasing the capacity for long distance railway passenger transport services the Government is in the process of purchasing 100 carriages of which 25 have been delivered already in September this year. Balance 75 coaches will be delivered by December 2007. The total amount allocated for the purchase was 3,720 million rupees.
State-owned bus services in its contribution while improving quality of services and in this regard, 2,000 buses have been purchased and 200 new engine kits have been installed in existing buses. In addition, 25 bus depots have been selected to develop as a model project.
In addition, purchase of fifteen Diesel Multiple units, upgrading of Colombo-Matara railway line, Matara-Kataragama railway line extension, Kurunegala/Dambulla/Habarana new railway line development, eastern railway line rehabilitation, development/ extension of Kelani vally railway line up to Hambantota via Ratnapura and Embilipitiya is already in the list of priorities.
A novel idea of establishing Light Rapid Transit system by year 2015 in the Colombo metropolitan area is in the list as well.
Source: Sunday Observer
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