News
Park-and-ride service coming to Kandy; but commuters long for circular service
View(s):The park-and-ride facility will be introduced to Kandy City also to overcome the traffic congestion, said State Minister of Transport Dilum Ammunugama.
The service was introduced on January 15 in Colombo, enabling those travelling to Colombo to park their vehicles at the Makumbura car park in Kottawa and take the luxury City Bus which operated according to a time table that can be accessed via a mobile phone app.
Addressing a news conference in Kandy, the state minister said parking facilities would be set up in Gannoruwa, Katugastota and Tennekubura and the luxury City Bus service would operate from these facilities taking passengers to the Kandy city.
Some years ago, the Kandy Regional Transport Boards introduced a Circular Service with buses operating from Peradeniya to Polgoalla and Tennakumbura every fifteen minutes. Passengers were charged the normal rate.
With the officials who started the service distancing themselves from it due to unknown reasons, the popular service was stopped without an explanation.
A commuter told the Sunday Times that instead of the park-and-ride facility and luxury buses that charge a higher rate and cater largely to affluent car travellers, the authorities should reintroduce the circular bus service from the three terminals the state minister had earmarked. As was the case earlier, buses could operate every fifteen minutes during week days.
City Bus service at Makumbura. Pic by Indika Handuwala