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Abusive operators of decrepit buses set to exact high price, again
View(s):Fares of private and state run buses will rise from July 1 although promises to improve services are yet to see the light of day.
The proposed fare increase of 6.28% and the increase of the minimum fare of Rs 9.00 to Rs 10 as approved by the Cabinet, will come into effect next month. Bus fares were raised by 6% last year as well.
Regular bus fare: reckless drivers and crude, abusive conductors. Pix by Athula Devapriya
A cross section of bus passengers said they fear reckless drivers and crude, abusive conductors, mostly in private buses.
They say buses operating from Colombo to the provinces are the most dangerous.
Sajeewa Kumara, a student in the Management Faculty at the Rajarata University, said he always preferred SLTB buses as they are safer. But he complained that buses don’t operate to schedule.
Another regular passenger, Priyankara Wickramasinghe, said the condition of SLTB buses was worse compared with private buses.
He said many buses emit thick black exhaust gases, adding that interiors are covered in a layer of soot.
W Roska, 50, who travels from Kalutara to Colombo every day fears reckless drivers. Conductors often ignore offering change when the fare is paid. “My daily fare is Rs 65 but they rarely give back the change of Rs 5.
The conductors raise their voices when we ask them for change.” Mr Roska, a lorry driver, said many bus drivers are speeding, much to the discomfort of passengers and other road users.
M N S Sankha, 42, a businessman and frequent bus traveller, said a fare increase would adversely impact his business. “We have to increase our prices of goods, but that would definitely hurt our business.”
Indrani Liyanage
He also complained of the nuisance from beggars who board buses in Wellawatte and Kollupitiya.
Indrani Liyanage, who was waiting to board a bus to Padukka at the Pettah bus stand with her son, said she found private bus crews hostile.
Apart from abusive conductors, she said, passengers have to bear with overloading and speeding.
However, Stanley Fernando, president of Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Federation, said the fare increase was inadequate. Instead, he demands a 10% increase.
He said prices of lubricants and tyres have climbed by between 200% and 300%. Mr Fernando claimed fares need to rise so that services could be impoved.
The Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association president, Gemunu Wijeratna, told the Sunday Times they agreed to the 6.28% fare increase.
Priyankara Wickramasinghe
He suggested repealing the system of revising fares annually and introducing a new policy. “Bus owners would not get any advantage from this increase.
Only the conductors and the drivers will benefit,” he claimed.
Mr Wijeratna claimed that the association worked hard to improve servcies and that proposals in the budget including the introduction of electric buses, separate bus lanes, and the travel card system had not been implemented properly.
