Metro Bus Service to expand to Galle, Kandy and Jaffna

The Government plans to expand the Metro Bus Service beyond the Western Province to Galle, Kandy and Jaffna, Transport, Highways and Urban Development Minister Bimal Rathnayake said on Monday (07).

Speaking at the opening of the Kadawatha Metro Depot Yard, Rathnayake said the Metro Bus fleet would increase to 122 buses this month.

The Government has also submitted a Cabinet paper to procure another 50 buses, which would raise the fleet to 172 by the end of this year or early next year.

Rathnayake said private operators would also be allowed to run services in partnership with Lanka Metro Transit in the future.

The Government is developing Metro Bus infrastructure with the Clean Sri Lanka Secretariat, Sri Lanka Transport Board and Lanka Metro Transit.

Four depots are planned under the first phase at Talangama, Kadawatha, Ekala and Ratmalana.

Rathnayake also said the Government planned to import 600 new air-conditioned buses for the SLTB by the end of the year and procure another 200 using SLTB funds.