ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka is in discussions with a private technology group to set up a circulator route in the city using modern buses without a conductor in bid to upgrade public transport, Transport Minister Bandula Gunawardana said.
“We are in discussions with a technology group in the Trace City to start a modern city bus service,” Minister Gunawardana told EconomyNext.
“The buses will only have a driver. But the current laws do not allow public buses to be operated without a conductor. Se we have to change the law.”
Circulator buses typically operate on both directions on a circular route, they have simplified charging. Two routes may cross each other, somewhat similar to the way MRT systems work.
Sri Lanka has a tightly regulated public bus service with a bewildering array of routes. State regulations typically stifle innovation. Due to tight regulations including price regulation, Sri Lanka’s three wheeler taxis have boomed.
Until a recent currency collapse, the worst in the history of the island’s intermediate regime central bank, which has destroyed living standards of the people more than in previous crises, buses were losing customers to three wheeler taxi’s and private transport, mostly motor-cycles.
Quality of public buses is low – except on expressways – due to regulated pricing and a rigid licensing system, critics say.
Three wheeler taxis on the other hand have rapidly innovated into ride sharing. (Colombo/Oct27/2022)
Queer way of pricing for public transport and travel. The bus fares for the same distance are phenomenal compared to the train travel charges. Does it mean that the railway has not charged enough or the transport cost should be reduced? More so the trains cannot handle such a huge crowd during peak hours and passengers hanging onto the footboards or on the roof are exposed to severe danger.
This guy is bluffing again. Sri Lanka doesn’t have the infrastructure for projects of that nature. Some idiots cancelled the first elevated trolley system and now blowing hot air.
The problem is overcrowding in buses like sardines.
Another gimmick. in England, it was necessary because the population was going down and there were fewer people willing to become conductors. The strikes in England at the moment are because of safety concerns about reducing the number of conductors even more
Wild dreams, with the post and position changing.
This is possible when a family can live with Rs. 2500/- a month.