Short circuit for state vehicles

A top official has come up with an innovative solution to ease congestion on the roads – remove all state vehicles and provide an incentive to public servants to use their own mode of transport.

M.B.S. Fernando, Chairman of the Road Development Authority, says 35% of the vehicles on the road – excluding buses -- are owned by the government which costs an average Rs.150,000 per vehicle per month to maintain.

His suggestion is to replace the vehicles with a Rs.40,000 - Rs.50,000 per month allowance for each official and let them decide their mode of transport – between commuting by bus/train or purchasing private vehicles.

For these vehicle drivers who are mostly educated youth, IT education could be provided to enable them to branch out into other jobs. He however stressed that this all depends on an efficient public transport system in the country.