The Metro Bus service will be expanded across Colombo city from tomorrow (29), the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development, Bimal Rathnayake stated.

The Transport Minister said 121 buses will be deployed under the programme, which is being implemented under the initiative of the President.

He made these remarks at a special media briefing held to raise awareness about the national programme being implemented to improve road safety and public transportation services.

Minister Rathnayake said the programme aims to reduce the use of private vehicles and encourage more people to use public transportation.

He noted that although the bus priority lane system had previously been introduced by Sri Lanka Police, it had not been possible to maintain the system continuously due to various reasons.

Under the Metro Bus service, arrangements have been made to provide a more organised public bus service, with buses operating according to scheduled times, stopping only at designated locations, and being operated by drivers and conductors expected to comply with traffic regulations, the Minister said.

He added that the Metro Bus system had been identified as a more suitable mechanism for implementing the bus priority lane system.

Accordingly, one of the three lanes on the road will be reserved for public transport buses in one direction from 6.00 a.m. to 9.00 a.m., and in the opposite direction from 4.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m., Minister Bimal Rathnayake said.