Low-floor buses launched to boost accessible public transport for differently-abled

A new low-floor bus service aimed at helping people with disabilities and special needs was launched today (21) at the Makumbura Multimodal Center (MMC). Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development, Bimal Rathnayake, officially opened the service. Today, ten specially designed low-floor buses were added to the transport system. These buses are made to allow wheelchair users, visually impaired passengers, and pregnant women to board easily, according to the Transport Ministry. Each bus has 30 seats, and there are special areas for wheelchair users. The pilot project runs on routes from Makumbura to Colombo Fort and from Makumbura to Kadawatha. These routes include stops at important hospitals like the Colombo National Hospital and Maharagama Apeksha Hospital. During the event, Minister Bimal Rathnayake mentioned that while these buses focus on helping the differently-abled community, they will also offer a comfortable and reliable service for all riders. He added that before the year ends, 122 low-floor buses are expected to be added, with plans to expand the service to places like Kandy, Batticaloa, Matara, and Jaffna in the future.