Public bus operators defy load limits despite epidemic

Public and private buses that load up with passengers exceeding their seating capacity have become a common sight in Colombo despite strict Covid-19 restrictions.

And for some passengers the options are limited.

"I also travel standing up most of the time," said Ayesh Eranda, 23, who takes the 138/176 bus routes to work. "They always exceed seating capacity and during rush hours you can't even stick a finger in the crowd," he noted, adding that while he understood the health risks, there is no choice.

"The Colombo buses have always taken on people way beyond their seating capacity and it's still the case now," said another 25-year-old university student who uses the 175 bus route. But, a visit to the Pettah Bus Stand shows that this also happens on some buses that transport people beyond Colombo.

Madhawa De Silva, 34, travels from Katubedda in Moratuwa every weekend and noted that on some occasions he has come into Colombo on buses on which people stand on floorboards.

"We do it anyway because we have no other choice," he said.

"We do it for financial reasons," justified one conductor that responded to the Sunday Times on the field.

The 27-year-old conductor works on the 176 route and insisted that bus operators were flouting the seating rule to earn as much as they can from a trip.

But, just last November, all bus fares were increased by 20% following fuel price increases.

"The revenue that one can earn from it has been made quite reasonable, so there is absolutely no reason to take standing passengers on buses," countered Shashi Welgama, the chairman of the National Transport Commission.

He reiterated that under coronavirus guidelines, bus operators are prohibited from boarding passengers exceeding the number of seats.

Passengers can complain by dialling 1995 or by writing to the commission.

He also added that the police are empowered by law to stop and reprimand bus drivers and conductors who disobey the law.

But, whether or not this is enforced is yet to be seen.