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Joint timetables for all buses
By Sachitra Mahendra
On a directive by President Chandrika Kumaratunga, the Transport Ministry is to introduce the joint bus timetable scheme, as a step in the CTB restructuring programme, despite objections, Transport Minister Felix Perera told The Sunday Times.

The joint timetables would allow buses of both the state and private sector to run to a regular timetable. The joint timetable scheme, with 40 percent involvement of state-run buses, was proposed by the National Transport Commission.

However private bus owners are against the move as they own 18,500 buses whereas there are only 3000 state-run buses, which entitle the latter to only 16 percent on the joint timetable.

“It’s a 6 to 1 ratio, so they should be fair in drafting the joint timetable. How can a 40 percent involvement of the state sector be provided with an insufficient number of buses?” Lanka Private Bus Owners Association chief Gemunu Wijeratne questioned.

However, state transport employees disapprove of the scheme, even though it allows 40 percent involvement of state buses. They claim they should be provided more buses and the involvement increased to 50 percent.
Meanwhile, the balance Rs. 1500 of the Rs. 2500 allowance payable to state sector employees had been paid to bus employees.

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