The Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) plans to expand the existing passenger transport system via the use of boats along existing waterways in the city. The plan envisages use of boats for the transport of passengers and cargo.As a pilot project, a passenger boat transport service was inaugurated along the Beira Lake, between Union Place and Colombo Fort, on Thursday (22.08.19). The aim -to check whether the the utilisation of waterways could improve the passenger transport and reduce traffic congestion on the roads.Chairman of the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation Development Corporation (SLLRDC), Roshan Gunaratna said the SLLRDC had currently deployed three passenger boats -(one air conditioned 50-seater boat and two non-air conditioned 14-seater boats.The vessels were designed and built by the Sri Lankan Navy.He added another air conditioned boat would be added to the fleet in the first week of September.The boats -currently operational- are scheduled to operate every 20 minutes between Fort and Union place at peak office hours between 7.30 am to 9.00 am and 3.30 pm and 5.30 pm.