Chanaka Bandarage

It is refreshing that the Japanese government has announced considering the grant of a soft loan to build the Light Rail system from Malabe to Colombo (Stage 1).

Japan made the Light Rail offer to Bangladesh also. But, they requested for a Metro system and received it.

An underground Metro rail system like in New Delhi, Mumbai, Dhaka (Bangladesh), Kyiv is ideal for Colombo.

The advantage of Metros is that they are linked with the existing railway system.

The Metro can cover the whole of Colombo; also its suburbs – for eg. up to Kadawatha, Homagama, Jaela, Boralesgamuwa  and Panadura.

The Metro would solve Colombo’s traffic problem to a greater extent.

The writer acknowledges that a complete/very comprehensive  underground Metro rail project for Colombo will be extremely expensive. I am sure our friends – Japan, India, China, US and Europe will help.

In the long run, for growing Colombo, Metro is the best option.

Meticulous digging of the surface to create a very elaborate underground Metro network will be a humongous job. But, experts can do this.

Light Rail cannot solve Colombo’s transport problem. The traffic jams will still be there.

Mumbai and Bangkok are notorious for very bad vehicular traffic. They have some of Asia’s biggest traffic jams. And, they both have above the ground Light Rail.

In Russia, it is stated that when light rail lines run 20 trains per hour; a normal bus service runs 42 buses per hour.

During the Light Rail construction period (this will be considerable), the traffic problem from Malabe to Fort via Rajagiriya and Borella would increase by tenfold. This congestion will flow on to other parts of the City. 

Parts of Malabe to Fort roads are very narrow, the writer believes that Light Rail in some areas will run a single track on both ways, for example around Welikada flyover. Then, this would significantly reduce the number of Light Rail cars that can be operated. This means Light Rail will not be able to cater to a very large number of people.

Light Rail intends to acquire lots of land, including private land; but these are highly congested areas. And, they are very valuable land.  The owners will no doubt put up stern fights against the acquisitions. Simply, there is hardly any space available in Stage 1 for specific road widening.

Due to lack of sunlight the ground underneath the Light Rail concrete slab is always dark; also that valuable area is unproductive (note areas under Colombo flyovers – Dematagoda, Nugegoda, Dehiwala; under the Katunayake expressway in Ragama; under the Light Rail tracks in Mumbai/Bangkok). Light Rail introduces a new darkness to the environment; the brightness in the townships will end.

Large, dark swaths of land that lie under the giant concrete structures of the Southern and Katunayake expressways (due to lack of sunlight) are now unproductive and cannot be used for any purpose. They are eyesores too.

Any idea to extend the Outer Colombo Expressway linking it with the Southern, Katunayake, (and Kandy) Expressways is a good move. This will avoid the motorists driving long distances to reach the highway exits – Kottawa, Athurugirya, Kahathuduwa and Panadura.

Through the Outer Colombo Expressway, Motorists would be able to enter the Expressways from within Central Colombo. This is excellent.

The writer believes that electrifying our existing railway network is also important (at least from Fort to Polgahawela and Fort to Panadura). For how many more years do we intend to run Diesel trains?

Since Independence, the governments indicated their desire for this but no one had the audacity to undertake it. The environmental and economic benefits of train electrification are enormous. In South Asia, only India has electric trains. If we ask, India may help.

The best solutions to Sri Lanka’s massive traffic problem are to where possible widen existing roads, build new roads (underground/overhead roads/flyovers should be considered), open-up Expressways to more vehicle categories, ban parking on main roads (build multistorey/underground car parks), significantly improve the passenger bus/rail transport (encourage as much as possible people to give up cars/motorbikes) and the Colombo Metro. Introduction of small buses, in addition to existing large buses, is a good idea. Any opposition by private bus operators must be disregarded.

We have narrow roads/streets in Sri Lanka, especially in Colombo. Most were built during the colonial period. The buses that we have are very large. They are too big for the roads/streets. That is the main reason for the huge traffic jams and a large number of road accidents. The authorities must consider introducing smaller buses, like 26/18 seater buses, on some routes.  This will be in addition to the existing big buses. A blend of big and small buses is the best way forward. Small buses are ideal for night-time transport (then, the 103 Fort to Borella, 138 Fort to Homagama etc can be able to run until midnight). 

Sri Lanka is one country where public transport is run solely based on profitability. This is the problem of privatizing public transport foolishly (in the early 1980s).

Public transport must be people-focused. This is how they are run in developed countries.

Buses must be freely available at all times. Passengers must travel in comfort, without harassment – especially female passengers. Every effort must be made that every passenger will have a seat.

During the CTB days buses were run until late nights regardless of whether there were passengers or not. The rule of thumb is that when a bus (or a train) is run regularly for a long period of time, even if it is in the night, that route will attract passengers. What is required is strictly adhering to the timetable.

As they can be jampacked, private bus operators like big buses. They are money-making machines.

Their only focus is to increase passenger numbers. They jam pack.  They pay scant regard to passenger interests/comforts.

They keep buses parked at some bus stops for unbelievably long times to pick new passengers. This causes massive problems to commuters; but the operators know there is no one to properly check/complain to.

Another reason why they like big buses is that in the event of an accident most of the time their lives are safe; it is people in smaller vehicles/pedestrians that will die/suffer.