All road users to pay a toll

10 April 2023 07:14 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 11 Bookmark

CHATURANGA PRADEEP SAMARAWICKRAMA Follow

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The government will soon set up a Road Maintenance Fund (RMF) with initial funding of Rs. 100 million to make all main and inter-provincial roads toll-paying roads, Transport and Highways Minister, Dr. Bandula Gunawardana said.

Cabinet approval has been granted to establish the RMF in line with other countries to ensure proper road maintenance and also to slash heavy costs incurred by the government for road construction and maintenance, Minister Gunawardana stressed.

After the establishment of the RMF, road users, mainly motorists will have to pay a predetermined toll for using the road. The budgetary allocation for road construction and maintenance of rural and inter-provincial roads was Rs. 375 billion in 2022. This is in addition to the local and foreign funding for the construction of expressways.

The RMF will be established under the Road Development Authority (RDA) to maintain and refurbish existing roads and construct new roads and bridges. There are 25,000Kms of rural, inter-provincial rods and main highways under the RDA right now.

With the negative effect brought about by the economic meltdown road maintenance has been neglected. With the income generated by the RMF, Sri Lanka would be in a position to maintain a better road network in the country without any burden to the Treasury, he added. (Sandun A Jayasekera)

Comments - 11

Suggestion Monday, 10 April 2023 07:53 AM

Please exempt PUBLIC TRANSPORT buses; Otherwise bus fare will go up.

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joshua Monday, 10 April 2023 08:43 AM

And exempt the politicians?

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Hn Monday, 10 April 2023 09:28 AM

Hello my friend Bandula, What do you do with vehicle registration fees collected? They are for transport infrastructure and maintenance. Not for your pocket or foteign travel or your pocket!

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Kumara Monday, 10 April 2023 11:54 AM

What a joke. People already paying for road maintenance as annual revenue licence fee.

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Dee Monday, 10 April 2023 12:59 PM

First to object to this would be those high net worth people and those who don't even own a private vehicle. Then will be those who think the pittance they pay as revenue license (just barely a week's fuel cost) money is enough. But all these people will die to go overseas and pay all these taxes! Go ahead and 'Implement It' - we were hoping for such a system for over a decade!

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Citizen k Monday, 10 April 2023 01:25 PM

Another brilliant idea from a minister who has no idea in what he is doing nor what he is talking about.

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Sandy Monday, 10 April 2023 01:29 PM

A sensible person like harsha should become president. Ranil is just a short term option.

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Disgusted Monday, 10 April 2023 01:39 PM

What the hell do you do with our tax money you fool???? Is it only NOW that you thought of maintaining the roads????? Roads have not been maintained for more than 20 years at least!!!!!! And how much money was pocketed by the politicians when constructing the highways and overhead bridges?????? Nobody will mind paying tolls and taxes as long as that money is put to good use. All of you will surely go to a special hell one day!!!!

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Cherath Monday, 10 April 2023 03:09 PM

With every imaginable tax is loaded on people , what will they think of next? Every man and woman is squeezed so tight, breathing for life might not be spared. So much for the welfare state! Should the ordinary people pay so much for the lack of efficiency and solutions of a backdoor entrant President ??

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Rila A.Hady Thursday, 13 April 2023 05:12 PM

Road Tax is a good idea but how many percentage of the Collection will go to the pockets of Politicians and Officials and it is believed to be about 60 % to 70% approximately. So let there be a People's Committee to Approve final payment to contracterstors and related expenses.

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Dhusana Wednesday, 19 April 2023 03:33 PM

Whatever Taxes or other Levies are imposed, the problem is that the people are not happy and have unceasing doubts about the proper use of those monies they pay.In other words, people have no confidence on the Politicians and Officials in the country.

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