The third phase of the Priority Bus Lane project launched by the Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development will be implemented on Tuesday, August 29. According to Ministry sources, the new phase will consist of two priority.
bus lanes running from the Polduwa junction (Diyatha Uyana junction) to the Ayurveda junction, Borella and from the Town Hall to the Thummulla junction.
The third phase comes after the successful implementation of four other bus lanes during August, under the Ministry’s Western Region Megapolis Transport Master Plan.
At present, two bus lanes are operational between Kurusa Junction in Moratuwa and Katubedda junction and from the Savoy Cinema, Wellawatte on the Galle Road up to the Bambalapitiya Junction while another two were implemented last week between the Katubedda Junction and the Maliban Junction on the Galle Road as well as between the Bambalapitiya junction and the Pittala junction.
The Ministry hopes to introduce nine bus priority lanes in Colombo under its Transport Development Project. According to the Minister of Megapolis and Western Development, Patali Champika Ranawaka, the new bus lanes is not a trial project but a permanent one.
“We need the support of all parties to make it a success,” he said, adding that improving the public transport system is the only solution to resolve the severe congestion being experienced on the main roads.
The bus lanes will operate during peak hours, from 6 a.m. - 9 am. Three other bus priority lanes running from the Technical Junction to Slave Island; Borella to Maradana as well as from Slave Island to Pettah are expected to be introduced shortly.