Regarding the above topic, a discussion regarding the existing transport problems in Kegalle district was held yesterday (25th) between Kegalle District Coordinating Committee Chairman, Environment Minister Dhammika Patabandi and Kegalle District Secretary / Governor H. M. J. M. It was held at Kegalle District Secretariat under the chairmanship of Mr. Herath.
District Coordinating Committee is scheduled to meet on 01 August and the Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Mr. Bimal Ratnayake is scheduled to attend the meeting.
This program / pre-discussion was held with the aim of getting the necessary ideas and suggestions for the transportation problems in Kegalle district under the purview of his ministry.
During the last 2 years, about 90 problems were identified regarding the routes where buses were not running and about 45 problems were identified regarding bus routes to villages where buses were not running due to non-profitability. About 30 issues regarding new inter-provincial bus routes were proposed and under other issues, issues related to depot premises, the need to implement a unified schedule, and about 15 issues related to employee vacancies were identified. Also, 3 problems related to buses and 5 problems related to increasing the frequency of running buses and regularizing the running were also presented here.
12 issues related to extension of bus service on the roads and inclusion of new routes and bus deployment at school opening and closing times and bus stands which have been decommissioned and which can be renewed and used were also discussed.
Also about 30 issues regarding the roads to be developed under the Road Development Authority were presented. In addition to non-running of buses, increase in travel time and other problems related to transportation, road problems, details of 21 roads which have not been completed under the i-road project belonging to the Provincial Road Development Authority were also discussed at the divisional secretariat level.
About 20 problems were identified on the roads that need to be developed under the Provincial Road Development Authority and 11 bridges that need to be developed under the Road Development Authority were also identified at the respective divisional secretariat level. Also, 25 problems related to bridges under the Provincial Development Authority to be developed were also presented here.
In relation to the railway traffic related to the district, 8 problems related to railway lines and 6 problems related to unsafe railway gates were identified which should be newly added to the train schedule. Apart from this, road signal essential location information, other proposed service requirements to be developed in relation to railway stations in the district were also taken into consideration. Also, the new service requirements identified in the services related to the Motor Transport Department, the new service requirements identified in relation to the National Institute of Transport Medicine and finally the roads and other related issues were also discussed.
Representing all these problems and proposals and its responsibility, the Members of Parliament and the Divisional Secretaries belonging to the respective Divisional Secretariats, the respective depots, the Road Passenger Transport Authority, the Road Development Authority, the Provincial Road Development Authority, the Ministry of Rural Infrastructure, Tourism, Sports and Youth Affairs (Sabaragamu Provincial Council), the Sri Lanka Transport Board and the relevant railway stations, representing the political authority. The station masters concerned had also given information on these issues.
Kegalle district parliamentarians representing the political authorities, mayor of Kegalle municipality, local council chairpersons and local council members for the pre-discussion round to discuss these issues and identify more issues.
Divisional Secretaries, District Planning Director (retd) Mrs. Indika Senaratne, officials of other government institutions related to this scope and others participated.
