The government has focused attention on reducing expressway tolls. The budget for next year had also proposed to reduce the charges by 50 rupees. Director of Operation, Maintenance and Management Division of the Expressways, S. Opanayaka says it will come into effect after the relevant gazette notification is issued. The number of vehicles traveling along the expressways had increased from last Saturday. The long weekend and school holidays as well as year end has prompted the public to travel to various places using the expressways.
The total number of vehicles traveled along the southern expressway, Katunayaka expressway and the Colombo outer circular expressway on Saturday alone is 91,000. The revenue earned during that day is 26.5 million rupees. Responding to a query made by the SLBC the Director disclosed it is the highest revenue earned during a day. Furthermore, the total number of vehicles traveled along the southern expressway along has gone up from 43,000 to 60,000. A revenue of 17.5 million rupees have been earned on that day.
Meanwhile, the number of accidents reported in expressways have shown a decline over the last couple of days.
He pointed out drivers being careful to follow the road rules and signals have resulted this positive development.