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Recently we have read in the news media of another agitation by the
Private Bus Owners' Association requesting a price hike due to the
increase in fuel prices. This is a thing we have heard over and over
again during the past 6-7 months: fuel increase and then demand for
increase in fare prices.
It is good to have competition for the SLCTB by encouraging private
buses to carry passengers throughout the country which naturally offers
more buses, air-conditioned inter-city buses, as well as a good service
within zones etc.
However, the Private Bus Owners' Association must honestly evaluate
the services they provide passengers - whether or not passengers are
treated courteously, whether tickets are being issued by every bus
conductor without having to demand it, whether they adhere to the
stipulated number of standing passengers that they are permitted to
carry, and worst of all - the number of hours passengers have to sit in
a bus for a trip that would normally take 15-20 minutes?
Before another price hike is permitted, this association must answer
the above questions. Passengers are the people who pay the increased
fares and it is only natural, that they expect a decent bus ride from
one destination to another without having to face the 'stinging
comments' of rude bus conductors at whose mercy we are in, until we
disembark at our destinations!
The transport authorities must first and foremost, do a thorough
check of all private buses that do short routes as well as long
inter-city routes. They must employ flying squads to check whether
tickets are being issued to all passengers immediately the fares are
paid and whether or not buses are being overloaded.
Although it is stipulated that it is mandatory that every bus plying
on the roads must have stickers in the bus with the number plate of the
bus, setting aside bus seats for 'Clergy', 'Pregnant Mothers' and
'Disabled', too often we see the clergy being forced to sit in seats
other than those stipulated, pregnant mothers standing and travelling in
buses and even disabled passengers being forced into extremely
inconvenient travel hazards because perfectly healthy passengers have
already occupied their seats.
The clergy are exceptionally insulted and demeaned into standing most
times because female passengers have occupied the seats allocated for
the clergy and 'conveniently', they pretend as if they do not see the
clergy embarking the bus - when the passengers ignore, the clergy
numerous are the times that even the conductor of the bus turns a blind
eye by not instructing passengers to get up from their seats and offer
them to the clergy for whom those seats have been set aside.
When both the bus driver and conductor stall at bus stands and wait
for 30-40 minutes to fill their buses, the passengers dare not speak out
for fear of being embarrassed by the cutting remarks of "why don't you
get into a car and travel instead of travelling by bus?"
This is by no means an exaggeration and is a daily occurrence that
passengers face. Try to ask a ticket for the fare you paid and pat comes
the answer "no tickets - if questioned we will pay the fines - don't
worry!" If a passenger happens to be persistent, after a grunt from the
conductor most unwillingly, he will thrust a ticket into your hand but
it is highly questionable whether these tickets are valid! One
particular route the writer can state here without any doubt is route
no. 163 Battaramulla - Dehiwela buses.
However, it needs to be stressed that this is not the only bus route
that is behaving in this manner and this is not the only route where the
conductors and bus drivers are a law unto themselves!
We expect the transport authorities and the Private Bus Owners'
Association to act in a more disciplined manner and to implement rules
and regulations and offer a courteous service to passengers.
If they are unable to do so, there is absolutely no reason why buses
that do not conform to the stipulated rules do not have their route
licenses cancelled as a deterrent to other bus operators.
The Minister of Transport must treat this as a priority and make
every effort to revitalize the SLCTB which gives a far better service
with all the handicaps. There is no harm in employing a few more people
as drivers and conductors and increase the number of SLCTB buses without
making poor hapless passengers suffer after paying for an expensive
service! Over to you Minister - prove that you mean to provide decent
services to the citizens of this country and we will be ever grateful to
you!
Ramani D. Wickramaratne
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I wish to express my appreciation of the excellent service rendered
by the above two information centres, where we can simply dial the
telephone number, toll free: 1919, under the Presidential Secretariat
and ICTA for information on Government institutions and 1920, of the
Department of Agriculture for information on agricultural matters.
The responding staff members are helpful, courteous and extremely
well-informed. This is a complete contrast to our experience when we
visit any Government office, where any caller, especially and elderly
person, is usually considered a minor nuisance, to say the least.
However, not many people seem to be aware of the existence of these
services. Wider publicity should be given about 1919 and 1920 by way of
first page newspaper advertisements and short messages on the radio and
TV, ideally just preceding the main newscasts.
In my opinion, these two services are fine examples of how efficient
Government services can be, simply by having the right staff.
Our best wishes and thanks to the staff at 1919 and 1920. Please
continue your good work we all deeply appreciate your services.
C.P.
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I write to bring to your notice the shocking expenditure the State
and the tax payers of this country are called up on to bear as a result
of negligent and careless use of our roads.
While visiting a patient at the National Hospital Colombo, I noticed
a patient with all his limbs in plaster and even his jaw had shifted -
the result of a three-wheeler accident.
The front wheel of the three-wheel taxi had come off and the man had
suffered extensive injuries which will keep him at the National Hospital
for at least three months. The orthopaedic problems caused by road
accidents can be minimised if we have a better safety policy.
The doctors told me that the surgical steel prosthetics and the nuts
and bolts alone will cost well over half a million rupees.
This money that will be paid by the Government and eventually all the
tax payers of the country. The salaries of medical staff, the cost of
hospitalization and other charges to the State will be in addition to
the half a million rupees of tax payer's money.
I do not grudge the treatment of an accident victim, but there is the
larger issue of road safety that we should address, if we are to spend
money on education, buying desks and chairs for our children, spend more
money on improving our roads, electricity, irrigation etc.
I am told a large number of accident victims, mostly those who are
involved in some form of accident with a three-wheeler costs a huge
amount of money for the Health Department.
Has there been any safety criteria before we allowed these dangerous
vehicles on our roads? At first glance, the three- wheelers may seem a
cheaper mode of transport, but the entire country is paying a very high
price for it.
SUNIL MENDIS,
Colombo
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I hardly watch TV. Off and on, I do watch news on Government Channel
and Private Channels to have a little amusement.
On Saturday May 26, I watched news in ITN at 1900hrs.
Nothing exciting but I was impressed by Anawarnaya which highlighted
the state of pavements or public pathways of the bridge on the Kelani
Ganga and the state of pavements and public pathways of more locations
which have caused injury to citizens using these utilities.
It is sad to state that, those responsible for public utility, travel
in vehicles provided by the public at public expense and fail to notice
the condition of public roads and public pathways. If the officials are
concerned and vigilant they could see the sad state of public utility.
Very soon a day will arise the public will take the law to their
hand, pull the officials out of their air-conditioned office or vehicle
and show the state of public utility which the public pays to look
after.
These are the violations of human rights the politicians have to make
a noise about. I was also impressed by the feature of Pranamaya which
showed a civic minded Naval officer together with his staff, putting
back to use discarded medical equipment saving the State a vast amount
of public money being wasted for the purchase of new equipment.
Most discarded equipment could be reconditioned by a minor repair but
is not done due to lack of interest of officials and red tape involved
in approval of payments etc.
Trust this project would be natured and encouraged to enable many
more civic minded citizens to do service to State without the project
being killed by those with vested interest to discard usable machinery
which can be brought back to service with a small repair to be bought at
a low price from an auction or by the supply of new equipment at a
higher price.
The State should recognize civic minded citizens of the quality of
this Naval officer and his staff.
These are the real Desabandus or Desapremis.
TISSA JAYAWEERA,
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