The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a pilot project to introduce a new Bus Sector Clustering Program aimed at improving the efficiency, safety and reliability of public bus services.

The pilot program will initially be implemented along bus routes 170, 177, and 190, with the involvement of the Sri Lanka Transport Board, private bus operators and other relevant stakeholders.

The government plans to expand the program to other areas based on the results of the initial phase, according to a statement issued by the Department of Government Information.

The government has taken the initiative in response to long-standing issues affecting the public bus industry, including intense competition among operators, irregular adherence to timetables, overcrowding of buses on certain routes, unsafe operating practices, passenger difficulties, traffic congestion and inefficient use of transport resources.

Officials said the bus sector clustering model, which has been adopted in several countries, will bring multiple operators on interconnected routes under a coordinated management system instead of allowing independent operations to continue without effective coordination.

The new program is expected to improve route management, ensure more balanced services, reduce operational conflicts among bus operators, and provide a more convenient and reliable transport experience for passengers.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the pilot project following the Cabinet paper presented by the Minister of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development, with plans to broaden the initiative after evaluating its performance.