By Maduhara Padmasiri The Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) is running with an ageing fleet, of which only about 5,016 buses are currently in operation, a Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) meeting was told. This means that of its total bus fleet of 7130, more than 2100 buses are not in daily operation due to [...]
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The Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) is running with an ageing fleet, of which only about 5,016 buses are currently in operation, a Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) meeting was told.
This means that of its total bus fleet of 7130, more than 2100 buses are not in daily operation due to mechanical issues and a shortage of drivers and conductors.
New Metro buses from China being unloaded from a ship. Pic by M.A. Pushpa Kumara
The shortage of drivers and conductors has grounded between 300 and 400 buses across the country.
The parliamentary committee was told that about 200 non-operational buses can be repaired and returned to service.
Attending the COPE meeting, SLTB officials revealed about 50 per cent of the fleet was over 10 years old, and around 1,780 buses used in daily operation were over 15 years old.
SLTB Chairman Sajeewa Kanakarathna noted that the current usable fleet is insufficient for an effective transport service, saying the board requires 7,339 buses to meet demand. Nearly 500 buses must be retired each year as they reach the end of their operational life.
He noted that the SLTB is aiming to strengthen the bus fleet within the coming 5 years.
By the end of this year, the SLTB is planning to increase the number of daily buses to 5600. The SLTB is taking action to buy 600 normal buses with 49-54 seats. Another objective of the institutional plan of SLTB for this year is to buy 200 deluxe buses.
About 1,000 new and repaired buses will be added to the SLTB fleet, Mr Kanakarathna said.
He said that by 2030, the SLTB plans to operate nearly 250 electric buses, considering the sustainability that they offer.
Mr Kanakarathna also said steps are being taken to recruit employees.
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