The Case for Bus Rapid Transit Systems: Lessons from the Neighbourhood

Rojie Ekanayake explores the potential of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems in addressing the long-standing issues in Sri Lanka’s public bus network, namely, poor safety, accessibility and comfort. Drawing on experiences from India and Pakistan, she highlights how BRTs, though promising faster and more efficient travel, can succeed only through careful planning and context-specific implementation.

In India, Ahmedabad’s BRT fared better with adequate infrastructure and multimodal connections compared to Delhi. Pakistan, especially Peshawar, has had more BRT success, achieving a gold-standard rating. But challenges with sustainability, cost and land acquisition persist. Rojie calls for Sri Lanka to revisit the BRT proposal through an updated feasibility study, transparent stakeholder engagement and system upgrades that align with broader transport and fiscal priorities.

Download here:

Policy-Tribune-III-June-2025.pdf

Download PDF • 221KB