A Policy for Safer, Smarter, and More Inclusive Public Transport in Colombo
Disconnected communities, long walks to the main road, and unreliable routes make daily life harder for thousands in Colombo. Closer Routes, Stronger Links is a transport initiative that brings school vans, community buses, and improved stops closer to underserved neighbourhoods. The aim is simple: make public transport safer, more accessible, and more human-centred — especially for students, workers, and seniors.
Main Stakeholders
- Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB)
- Private bus operators
- National Transport Commission (NTC)
- Road Development Authority (RDA)
- Colombo Municipal Council (CMC)
- Traffic Police & Ministry of Transport
- Commuters, drivers, and small businesses
Current Road Transport Infrastructure
- Overcrowded buses, especially during peak hours.
- Poor maintenance, air conditioning, cleanliness, and reliability.
- Bus halts without proper shelters, lighting, or information.
- No dedicated bus lanes; buses stuck in traffic like private vehicles.
- Weak integration between private and public bus operators.
- High-risk road crossings and unsafe waiting areas.
What We Have Now
- Majority of buses are old and polluting.
- No live tracking or mobile updates on bus schedules.
- Bus stops are poorly maintained or unsafe.
- Heavy congestion during school and office rush hours.
- No priority lanes or time-based traffic flow systems.
- Limited disability access or women-friendly facilities.
- Weak enforcement of bus lane discipline and speed limits.
- Poor connectivity in low-income settlements; children and workers must walk far or pay for tuk-tuks to reach main roads.
What We Will Improve
- Modernise bus halts with shelters, lighting, and route info.
- Improve road safety near bus stops with crossings and signals.
- Coordinate SLTB and private bus routes to avoid duplication.
- Train and monitor drivers for better passenger service.
- Create safe waiting spaces for schoolchildren and elderly.
- Enforce bus stop-only pick-ups to reduce road chaos.
- Identify and fix blind spots, potholes, and turning zones.
- Improve access to underserved areas by introducing short-distance feeder buses and vans.
What New Things We Will Introduce
- Launch a Move Colombo App for live bus locations, timings, and route suggestions.
- Pilot dedicated bus lanes in high-traffic corridors with clear markings.
- Introduce electric and low-emission buses through public-private partnerships.
- Install smart bus stop displays showing real-time arrival times.
- Set up Women’s Safety Zones at major halts with security features.
- Build bus priority signals at intersections to reduce delays.
- Launch Community Connect Routes – mini buses linking low-income housing areas to main bus corridors, especially during school hours.
- Install smart traffic light systems that adapt to peak hours and bus flow to reduce congestion.
- Set up municipal council-owned e-charging stations across key public transport and parking zones to support the shift to electric mobility.
- Introduce a short-distance, high-frequency train service in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Railways (CGR), offering faster connections between high-density zones within the city.
Making the System Transparent & Accountable
- Share monthly performance stats of routes and driver feedback.
- Enable public reviews of routes and bus services through the app.
- Publish complaints received and resolved by operator and route.
- Involve commuters in feedback sessions every quarter.
