The Panadura Bus Depot operated by the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) is set to be transformed into a national-level model depot under a Transport Ministry project aimed at developing 25 selected depots across the country.
Deputy Minister of Industries and Enterprise Development, Chathuranga Abeysinghe, visited the Panadura Depot yesterday (29) to review its current operations and future plans. Speaking during the visit, the Deputy Minister, who also serves as the Chairman of the Parliamentary Sub-Committee for Project Planning, said the objective of the project is to improve these depots to provide an efficient service to the public and to transform them into financially self-sustaining and profitable institutions.
Addressing the media, Deputy Minister Abeysinghe said that while some view the public transport sector as a burden on the government, it remains a crucial foundation for the country’s economic development. He pointed out that the neglect of key state services like railways and buses in past administrations has led to their decline, and that urgent reforms are now required.
The Deputy Minister outlined several key focus areas for the depot modernization program, including:
– Reintroducing underutilized buses into operation
– Route and schedule optimization
– Improving fuel efficiency
– Enhancing worker welfare and infrastructure facilities
– Maximizing employee productivity and service efficiency
– Utilizing surplus land for additional economic activities
– Conducting data-driven cost management on spare parts and tyre expenses
Deputy Minister Abeysinghe emphasized that by addressing these areas, depots like Panadura can be systematically developed to become sustainable and vital contributors to the country’s public transport needs. (Newswire)