Press Release on the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Energy and Transport

Attention of the SOC on Energy and Transport on the implementation of a passenger transport management system based on GPS technology.

• Committee’s focus on passenger transport management systems introduced by I3 CUBE and Nimbus companies.

• The committee recommends to speed up the installation of GPS devices in SLTB buses and start the implementation of the system introduced by I3 CUBE and discuss with the relevant parties to meet the necessary factors for the implementation of the system introduced by Nimbus Ltd.

The attention of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Energy and Transport was focused on the implementation of a passenger transport management system based on GPS technology.

Accordingly, the attention was drawn to the lack of GPS devices installed in many Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) buses to implement the system introduced by I3 CUBE. Also, the committee paid special attention to the successful implementation of the pilot project of the passenger transport management system introduced by Nimbus Ltd to the Western Provincial Council using 135 buses on 12 routes centered on Kadawata.

This was discussed when the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Energy and Transport met in Parliament recently (11) under the chairmanship of Member of Parliament Hon. Nalaka Bandara Kottegoda.

I3 CUBE pointed out that the data needed to implement the system they have introduced was not received from the SLTB buses. To operate the system, at least 70% of available data is required for one route.

Also, the Nimbus Ltd pointed out that the system they developed is currently operating successfully for 135 buses running on 12 routes centered on Kadawata.

The committee pointed out that both of these methods are very successful, but issues are being observed in the implementation. Hence, it was recommended to inform the committee about the technical method, income generation methods etc. introduced by the Nimbus Ltd. The committee also recommended to expedite the installation of GPS for SLTB buses and implement the system introduced by I3 CUBE.

Also, it was decided to meet this committee again within 3 weeks to take necessary decisions on this matter.

State Minister of Trasport Hon. Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Members of Parliament Hon. Niroshan Perera, Hon. Ashok Abeysinghe, Hon. Udayakantha Gunathilake, Hon. Premanath C Dolawatta and Hon. Kumarasiri Ratnayake were present in this meeting.