Reader’s View
COLOMBO : After waiting for nearly 20 minutes at the Borella bus stand for Bus No. 176 (operating between Hettiyawatte and Nugegoda) to travel towards Armour Street, I was compelled to board a Route No. 103 bus to Fort, disembark at Technical Junction, and then take a Kadawatte/Ja-Ela bus to complete my journey.
During this trip, I observed two Route No. 176 buses closely competing with each other, while a third bus arrived within minutes and joined the same pattern. All three buses effectively operated in a cluster, racing to maximize passenger intake.
This practice causes significant inconvenience to commuters. Passengers are often forced to break their journeys, resulting in delays and additional travel costs. More importantly, such reckless competition poses a serious risk to public safety and increases the likelihood of accidents.
I kindly request the Hon. Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Mr. Bimal Ratnayaketo take immediate action to regulate bus operations and prevent clustering and on-road racing. Strict enforcement measures—such as suspension or cancellation of route permits, along with substantial fines—should be implemented to deter this unsafe and unprofessional conduct.
Mohamed Zahran
Colombo
