The Road Solution by RDA Chief

Shenali Waduge

RDA Chairman Mr. M.B.S. Fernando made headlines when he pronounced that Sri Lanka was “moving vehicles & not people”. He has hit the nail on the head finally. For apparently there are 250,000 vehicles in Sri Lanka and half belong to the Western Province alone.

Sri Lanka’s public does not need any expert to tell them that the roads as well as the public transport they travel in is in horrendous shape and it has been so through all the political regimes in power. Torn seats, poor lighting, unclean and unhygienic buses & trains, dangerous drivers travelling at breathtaking speeds, rude conductors not to mention the smoke originating from these vehicles – these are only some of the travails that public commuters go through on a daily basis.

Mr. Fernando may bemoan the fate but what can he really do about the sad situation. Has anyone for that matter seriously cared to draw up a plan to phase out development on improving the present system instead of introducing mega projects which really is a means to pocket commissions from the contractors?

The RDA chief also reveals that 32% of all vehicles on Sri Lanka’s road belong to the Government & that each government vehicle consumes about Rs.75,000 worth of petrol monthly. Then comes the most shocking suggestion of increasing the cost of petrol by 100 a litre citing that congestion would stop overnight resulting in the people using public transport while using their private vehicles only for essential trips. That would make merry driving for the 32% of government owned vehicles who will careless of the exorbitant price hike be happy to roam the curfew-like streets using OUR HARD EARNED MONEY!!! While the public make scrimp to take to the roads because of the cost of the ride, Politicos will not think twice to drive in their duty free SUVs petrol for which is earned by the public! It makes amusing reading for the manner in which Government spendthrifts advise the public how to save what the public earn while the Government burns and wastes away earnings of the masses.

Can the Government wake up to the fact that it is the money earned by the public that they are using to freely travel all over the island as well as for all other expenses while there are in power?

If as statistics reveal that only 1.3 persons travel in a car, this is some food for thought. But before plunging forward to introducing bizarre solutions there is a more important element that needs attention to. Roads are in deplorable conditions (in all provinces of Sri Lanka). Some public vehicles need to be condemned quickly, the private bus owners must need to be told the type of vehicles they can use (in main roads, by roads and remote roads throughout Sri Lanka). Mega highway projects are mere political boosters and does not serve the present need. Just imagine traveling in an underground electric train and ending up stuck inside for countless hours because of the notorious power cuts! The recent weather witnessed shocking truths that revealed the poor state of not only our roads but our drainage systems. Are officials in these key offices humans, do they not care to project the real picture to the men and women who ultimately decide Sri Lanka’s policies.

Grants for highway projects to developing nations may be easily available & easy to secure but without a proper vision for its realization it is pointless applying for anything gratis. If aid givers raise an eyebrow for smaller projects we can but understand given the poor management & performance by those given the job in the past. If Sri Lanka had people who were keen on developing its roads, highways and all forms of public transport systems we would not be in this miserable state today.

What the country needs is not grandiose solutions but simple and practical solutions for the ordinary people who deserve to travel to their workplaces and homes in some form of comfort. Is this really too much to ask from the Politicos who no sooner they take office ride through Sri Lanka in SUVs.

We sincerely hope that Sri Lanka’s public transport will see a resurrection from the dearth it has fallen into.