Pilot project for 50 electric buses soon

*E-Motoring project to be implemented soon

*Demerit points system for traffic offences to commence next year

*Moves to establish a new speed limit regulation

*Pilot project to issue light vehicle driving licenses to hearing impaired persons

*Pilot project to detain drug-using drivers

A pilot project for the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) to operate 50 electric buses will be launched, to provide an efficient and a quality transport service, said Transport State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna.

The State Minister said that Cabinet approval has been obtained for this project to be implemented by Lakdiva Engineering Co. Pvt. Ltd.

He expressed these views on Tuesday (25) during a press conference themed ‘Collective Path to a Stable Country’, held at the Presidential Media Centre (PMC).

Alagiyawanna further stated that, as per the instructions of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, we are currently working as a Ministry to create a perfect and efficient transport service with technology. Lakdiva Engineering Co. Pvt. Ltd. has been established as a private company on 24 acre plot in Ekala.

Since the resources available here are not fully utilized, Cabinet has approved the implementation of programmes to find suitable investors and create productivity. Accordingly, as a pilot project, 50 buses are being used to create ‘E-buses’. It is planned to continue the programme to popularize electric buses.

The National Transport Medical Institute administers a total of 847,346 examinations annually, to renew and issue new drivers’ licenses. Such investigations tend to decrease accidents in the country. Due to these examinations, 58,641 applicants were found to be unsuitable. It costs Rs. 26 million annually, to print and issue medical certificates. Hence, Rs 26 million is saved annually, by including it in the computer data system from January 1, 2024.

The Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) has adopted technology to complete all transactions through card. The Ministry intends to update the Motor Traffic Act, which has been in effect for seven decades, and introduce a new Act, for which, 13 committees have been appointed. The new Act will be presented to Parliament next year.

The ‘E-Motoring project’ is expected to be implemented by the DMT. Through the implementation of this ‘E-Motoring project’, the Government will be able to recover taxes lost to date.

A demerit points system for traffic offences will commence by January 1, 2024. Under this system, a driver who accumulates 24 demerit points, will have his/her driving license cancelled immediately.

It is envisaged that the DMT and the National Council for Road Safety will jointly establish a new speed limit regulation, for which the gazette notification is being prepared. This indicates the maximum speed limit applicable for a vehicle within urban and rural limits. In future, the speed limit will be marked on the road. The pilot project is already being implemented in the Gampaha district.

As a pilot project, action has been taken to issue light vehicle driving licenses to hearing impaired persons in the Gampaha district. For about 30 years, hearing-impaired people have been applying for light vehicle driver’s licenses, but due to various obstacles, they have not been able to satisfy the requirements. It has been a privilege to issue driving licenses to hearing impaired people during my tenure, by drawing the attention of the DMT and the NTMI, to fulfill their demands.

Drug use is another element that contributes to accidents. Only those who drive while intoxicated have been arrested thus far. As a pilot project, a programme to detain drug-using drivers was put into place utilizing 50 technological kits that can identify people driving under the influence of drugs. As a result, when 1,781 of them were checked, 41 of them were found to have used drugs, including alcohol. Ninety per cent of them had their licenses suspended. Through all of these arrangements, we hope to provide a quality and efficient transportation service, the State Minister concluded.