The Metro Urban Luxury Transport bus service is expected to be introduced in Kandy next year, Transport and Highways Deputy Minister Dr. Prasanna Gunasena has announced.
As part of the preliminary planning process, a metro bus was taken on a test run through Kandy yesterday (15) to assess suitable routes, determine the technical specifications of the required buses and identify potential locations for bus stops.
Dr. Gunasena said plans had been drawn up until 2029 for the expansion of the metro bus service to several cities. Outside Colombo, Kandy, Jaffna and Galle have been identified as the first cities for the service.
He noted that the successful operation of metro buses in Colombo had benefited from an understanding of the city’s road widths and conditions. Similar assessments of road networks would therefore be necessary before introducing the service to cities such as Kandy and Galle.
The deputy minister said the buses are 12 metres long and that the main objective of the test run was to identify potential operational challenges within Kandy city.
He also pointed out that the large number of people travelling into Kandy in private vehicles contributes significantly to traffic congestion. Authorities expect the new bus service to encourage greater use of public transport and reduce the number of private vehicles entering the city.
The test run also examined practical arrangements, including marking locations where passengers could board buses and establishing designated bus stops. Meanwhile, officials are collecting data on the number of vehicles entering Kandy and the proportion of them that are privately owned.
The proposed route, covering approximately 19 kilometres, passed through Senanayake Street, Dalada Veediya, Sirimavo Bandaranaike Mawatha, Mulgampola, Gatambe Junction, Galaha Junction, Peradeniya, Angunawala, Gelioya, Weligalla and Kahatapitiya before reaching Gampola town and the Sri Lanka Transport Board depot there.
Before the test run, a meeting on implementing the proposed Kandy Metro Bus Project was held at the Central Province Roads Ministry Auditorium under the deputy minister’s patronage. Police traffic officials and
