The Metro Bus service will be expanded across Colombo city from tomorrow (29), Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake said.
The Minister said 121 buses will be deployed under the programme, which is being implemented on the initiative of the President.
He made these remarks at a special media briefing held to raise awareness about the national programme aimed at improving road safety and public transportation services.
Minister Rathnayake said the programme aims to reduce the use of private vehicles and encourage more people to use public transport.
He noted that although a bus priority lane system had previously been introduced by the Sri Lanka Police, it had not been possible to maintain it continuously due to various reasons.
Under the Metro Bus service, buses will operate according to scheduled times, stop only at designated locations, and be operated by drivers and conductors expected to follow traffic regulations.
The Minister said the Metro Bus system has been identified as a suitable mechanism for implementing the bus priority lane system.
Accordingly, one of the three lanes on the road will be reserved for public transport buses in one direction from 6.00 a.m. to 9.00 a.m. and in the opposite direction from 4.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m.
