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Expressway bus permits: Committee to decide
View(s):Permits to operate private buses on expressways will be given by a high-level committee instead of by open tenders, the Cabinet has decided. Private Transport Minister C.B. Ratnayake said the decision was taken because of shortcomings in the open tender procedure. He said the committee would comprise the Transport Minister, the Treasury Secretary, the Sri Lanka Transport Board chairman and himself. A separate committee would scrutinise applications.
The minister said those requesting permits should be able to operate super luxury buses, maintain them and have suitable drivers. He said a fee of Rs. 700,000 would have to be paid for each permit. Mr. Ratnayake said 50 per cent of the expressway buses would be operated by the private sector, 35 per cent by the Highway Express Company under the purview of the Road Development Authority and 15 per cent by the SLTB.