The much anticipated ferry service in water channels commenced this week in a bid to ease Colombo’ traffic. The service is from Battaramulla to Wellawatte.
Land Development Corporation Chairman Maj. Gen. (retd) M.R.W. De Zoysa said, “The project will be extended to other water ways depending on the success of this move,” and added, “It will help reduce the traffic jam in main cities, such as Battaramulla. We are keen to find a solution to the traffic congestion. Hence we launched a boat service from Battaramulla to Wellawatte to ease congestion.”
He said that the project will reduce the traffic jam in the city and ease 20 per cent of the traffic.
“We know that Battaramulla has changed in to a government administrative city. Many government ministries have been housed there. We started this passenger ferry service from Batharamulla to Wellawatha,” he added. The project was conceived by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa when he was the Secretary to the Ministry of Urban Development. The service with four vessels is open from 6 am to 6 pm.
“We have problems using larger boats. W need to think about the depth of the waterways and the height of the bridges. Two boats can accommodate 18 passengers, while the other two can accommodate eight,” Zoysa said.