Highest allocation for transport sector

Uditha Kumarasinghe, Irangika Range and Sandasen Marasinghe

Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said yesterday Budget 2008 for the first time in history has allocated 1.34 per cent from the Gross Domestic Production (GDP) to develop the transport sector.

The Minister speaking at the Committee Stage debate on his Ministry, said during the UNP’s two year regime, their budget had not allocated even 0.5 per cent from the GDP to develop the transport sector.

The Budget for the first time has allocated 1.34 per cent from the GDP to improve the transport sector, Alahapperuma said.

The Minister said during the 143 year history of the Railway Department, the Budget has allocated Rs. 18 billion for the first time as capital expenditure to the Railway Department.

This is the highest amount allocated to the Railway Department during its history, he said.

Amidst a terrorist problem, the Government has allocated this huge amount of money to develop the railway service, Alahapperuma said. This clearly shows the priority given by the Government to develop the country’s transport sector, he said.

The Minister said the Government in the Mahinda Chinthana had said the national crisis in the transport sector is one of the major crisis in the country. Therefore priority was given to develop the transport sector, he said.

Alahapperuma said: “We need constructive criticism to develop the transport sector. As a Government we have a firm belief to bring forward our vision and programmes.

Steps have been taken to name four CTB depots in the Eastern province as model depots. A large number of model depots have been given to the Eastern province. We implement all of our policies by thinking as a country.

The ministry’s intention is to develop public transport service. Nearly 833,000 people come to Colombo daily. Of them 70 per cent come to Colombo by bus. Nearly 750,000 come to Colombo daily by 11,000 buses.

Steps will be taken to turn the Muttur Depot into a model depot next year. Arrangements have been made to import 100 railway compartments from China. Of them, 25 compartments have already been imported. Another 50 compartments are due to arrive from China in December 14 and 15.

The Government will take every possible measure to strengthen the bus and railway service. Everybody should extend their support towards this attempt made by the ministry.