The Cabinet has approved a pilot programme to introduce bus sector clustering in Sri Lanka, aimed at easing overcrowding, improving efficiency, and reducing unsafe practices in the country’s public transport system.
According to the government, the initiative will initially cover bus routes 170, 177, and 190, with results to be evaluated before expanding further.
Sri Lanka’s bus transport system, operated by both the Sri Lanka Transport Board and thousands of private operators, has long struggled with excessive competition, weak adherence to timetables, overcrowded routes, unsafe driving, and inefficient use of resources.
Under the clustering model, bus services operating along interconnected routes within a single corridor will be managed as a coordinated cluster rather than separate units. Similar systems have been successfully implemented in many countries worldwide, delivering more reliable services and minimizing operational and social issues.
The government states the pilot programme will be carried out with the participation of relevant stakeholders, and if successful, will be extended to other routes to create a more efficient, citizen‑friendly public transport service. (Newswire)