Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2016-05-17

Implementation of the Comprehensive Transport Management Plan in the Western Region Megapolis

- It has been a felt need to provide urgent solutions, in order to minimize the crisis situation prevalent presently in the field of transport, especially to ease the traffic congestion in the Western Region. In the process, short term interventions as well as the other major interventions such as introduction of new technologies which should be implemented in medium and long term basis has to be made. Accordingly, it has been proposed to implement a number of measures such as introduction of flexible and staggered working hours, new parking arrangements, updating of signal light network, improvement of intersections with wide accommodation, improvement of school and office transport services, restructuring of public bus service, modernizing and improving the quality and services of buses, establishment of multi-modal transport hubs, railway electrification and modernization, use of inland water transport and road capacity improvements through the Transport Plan to be implemented under the Western Region Megapolis Master Plan. Accordingly, the joint proposal made by Hon. Nimal Siripala de Silva, the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation and Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka, the Minister of Megapolis and Western Development, to implement the above mentioned activities, projects and feasibility studies identified under the Western Region Megapolis Master Plan, in association with the relevant line Ministries and other institutions, was approved in principle by the Cabinet.