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Survey to assess road facilities and minimise congestion meets with opposition
A traffic survey to ascertain the needs of parking and road facilities during the past few weeks in Colombo drew angry reactions from the public who were forced to wait in long queues to take part in the survey during rush hours.
Students on the road during rush hour carrying out a traffic study. Pix by Indika Handuwala
The Colombo University along with the assistance of the Traffic Police conducted the survey to find ways to minimize traffic congestion in Colombo but without prior notice being given to motorists, thousands were left stranded on the roads for up to an hour while the survey was in progress. The last survey was conducted on last Thursday in front of the Kirulapone Police Station.
Professor K. A. P. Siddhisena told the Sunday Times that the survey, as requested by IGP N. K. Illangakoon, was carried out to ascertain the number of vehicles entering the city for various purposes.
However the public had a different opinion on the issue. One of the passengers, who waited for a bus, expressed his frustration over the survey as he was standing for more than 30 minutes, due to the traffic jam, waiting for the bus to reach the bus stop at the Kirulapone junction,.
“I could see the bus from here, but still it didn’t reach the stop so that I can get on to the bus and go to work before it’s too late.” said the passenger. He said that surveys should be conducted in the evening so that people can participate without getting late for work.
R. L. Subasinghe, a private bank employee said that he refused to corporate since he was on his way to participate in a training session at the bank, and was late. He praised the efforts taken by the Colombo University students.
“This is a better way to channel their energy and time on projects like this without carrying on with protests,” said Mr. Subasinghe.
S. Balakumaran, a retired civil officer said he participated in the survey and hoped more such projects were planned in the coming years for the benefit of the public. He said it took more than one hour to reach the Kirulapane Police Station from Nugegoda.
Professor Siddisena told the Sunday Times that university students and female police officers in civvies conducted the survey but many motorists refused to participate in it. He added that the morning period is the best time to conduct the survey since most people leave home at different times.
He explained that the survey focused on ten main roads and 14 entry points which lead to Colombo. He said that cars, vans, lorries and jeeps are the targeted vehicle groups for the survey and added that three-wheelers, motor bicycles, buses and school vans have been exempt from the survey due to valid reasons.The survey will be conducted from Tuesday to Thursday on Galle Road, Kandy Road, Mattakkuliya Road, Negombo Road and Kotahena Road during this week and the week after.
“So far the survey had been a success though not many participated in the survey but we managed to gauge the number of vehicles entering the city. Apart from vehicles on the Parliament Road, we managed to get 80 per cent of the vehicles from each entry point to take part in the survey.” said Prof. Siddhisena.
Professor Siddhisena also the Director of Colombo University Community Extension Center (CUCEC) said that the questionnaire was prepared according to 14 basic questions such as time of arrival, time of departure, reason for the visit, distance to Colombo from the starting point, number of passengers, duration of stay, parking place, etc., to research and find solutions to overcome the traffic congestion in the mornings and evening. He said that 30 students and 20 female police officers have been provided to perform the survey.
Senior DIG Ravi Waidyalankara and Traffic Police Administration DIG Amarasiri Senaratne too assisted the survey.
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