The current Government’s national policy to make public transport in Sri Lanka efficient and regulated identified the need to establish Multi-Modal Transport Hubs with necessary facilities. This aims to enable efficient public transport services from these hubs (Transit Cities) to main cities through inter-connectivity among transport modes.
Priority was given to conducting a formal feasibility study by integrating bus stands and railway stations that were identified as having the highest passenger circulation in the country. The objective is to improve inter-connectivity among transport modes such as buses, trains, and taxi services.
Accordingly, the Cabinet granted policy approval for a proposal submitted by the Acting Minister of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development for the development of the following Multi-Modal Transport Hubs:
- Kandy Multi-Modal Transport Hub: Construction has already begun under World Bank financing.
- Anuradhapura (South) Multi-Modal Transport Hub: Nearing completion under the Anuradhapura Integrated Urban Development Project.
- Anuradhapura (North) Multi-Modal Transport Hub: Feasibility studies were completed and preliminary work was finalised.
- Fort Railway Station Centred Multi-Modal Transport Hub: Proposed by the ComTrans Master Plan developed for urban transport in Colombo and its suburbs.
- Moratuwa Multi-Modal Transport Hub: Proposed by the ComTrans Master Plan.
- Ragama Multi-Modal Transport Hub: Identified through a study conducted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
- Avissawella, Galle, Katunayake, and Kurunegala Multi-Modal Transport Hubs: Identified according to the Urban Plans of the Urban Development Authority (UDA).
- Gampaha Multi-Modal Transport Hub: Identified according to UDA Urban Plans and under the railway electrification component of the Colombo Suburban Railway Project.
- Katunayake Multi-Modal Transport Hub: Identified under the Airport Development Plan.
- Kalutara Multi-Modal Transport Hub: Identified as per a proposal from the District Coordinating Committee.
- Kankasanthurai Multi-Modal Transport Hub: Identified under the UDA Urban Plan.
