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No safety measures for hanging bus, train passengers 

06 Jul 2022

BY Safrah Fazal No new safety measures have been implemented by the Ministry of Transport and Highways in the wake of the severe fuel crisis that has hampered transportation systems across the country, causing commuters to hang onto buses and trains, thus placing their safety at risk. Speaking to The Morning on Monday (4), Ministry Secretary R.W.R. Pemasiri said that the Ministry has duly instructed bus drivers and station masters to avoid jeopardising the safety of passengers by overcrowding and permitting passengers to travel on the footboard. “It is a risk to travel in this manner, but due to the prevailing crisis, they do not observe this. We ask passengers to avoid hanging onto trains and buses,” he added. He further said that the only option at the given moment is to increase the number of buses and trains. “Thus far, we have increased the number of coaches in eight trains that operate during peak times. We have also introduced a new train service from Waga in Avissawella to Maradana.” “We are also conducting a study at present to determine how we can increase the number of trains that travel on the same line. We are developing a new communication system between the train driver, station master, and control centre, which will enable us to increase the frequency of trains. Through Asian Development Bank (ADB) funding, we are developing a communication system for the entire railway system which will be implemented in August or September,” he said. In terms of the increase in the number of buses, Pemasiri noted that measures are being taken to procure fuel for buses. Meanwhile, speaking to The Morning on Monday, the Sri Lanka Railway Station Masters’ Union General Secretary Kasun Chamara said that owing to the reduced operation of buses, more people are opting for trains, which results in the overcrowding of trains with people travelling on the footboard, thereby risking their safety. While stating that they cannot limit the number of passengers that travel by train, Chamara also added that they have not limited the number of tickets being issued either. “While we announce from time to time asking passengers to avoid crowding, we cannot limit the number of people travelling due to the present situation. We ask commuters to avoid risking their lives, and if they are not constrained for time, we ask that they opt for the next scheduled train and avoid crowding.” He also added that following a notice issued early this year by an international organisation with regard to an impending global fuel crisis, the SLRSMU had written to the Minister of Transport and Highways on 15 March, with proposals that included the increase of scheduled trains during peak hours, increasing and doubling the number of coaches in trains that operate during peak times, and introducing new train timetables according to the demand. Despite this, he added, the Ministry had failed to take appropriate measures resulting in this situation. Meanwhile, speaking to The Morning, Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) Chairman Gemunu Wijeratne said that safety measures cannot be taken because people are compelled to travel in whichever way possible. He added that the only solution is to increase the number of buses being operated, but that that is a challenge due to the ongoing fuel crisis.


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