REFUGEE

The Transport Minister is looking at introducing ticket machines like those used in buses in the European countries to replace the private bus conductors, a Transport Ministry source said. An Indian investor has already handed over a project proposal on fixing local buses with automatic ticket machines to the Transport Minister through the President of the Private Bus Owners Association, Gemunu Wijeratne.

The ticket machines are aimed at cutting costs incurred by the private bus owners by implementing a more efficient system. The ticket machines are to be introduced to intercity buses under the first step.

However, senior officials at the Transport Ministry have informed Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma that


the introduction of the ticket machines would result in close to 70,000 bus conductors losing their jobs placing a large number of dependent families in difficulty.