Progress of Maganaguma and Gamanaguma

by Anura Maitipe

The government allocated Rs. 1900 million to implement the national plan for integration of road network under Mahinda Chinthanaya

Under this project the main urban rural roads and super highways will be amalgamated into one - The National Road Network.

Over 72 proposed road projects which were abandoned by the UNF government, including Colombo-Katunayaka Express Highway and partly built parallel road to the Galle road have been implemented.

The construction of a road network in the North and the East which was devastated by war and the tsunami is in progress and over 50 bridges that had been damaged have been reconstructed at a cost of Rs. 400 million.

The construction of the longest highway bridge in the country, across the Mahaweli River in Manampitiya bridge has commenced with the financial assistance from Japan which is expected to be completed by 2007.

Re-construction of Arugambay bridge at a cost of Rs 1.6 billion has commenced. The funds had been provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The bridge, the second longest in the North-East. Is along Ampara-Pottuvil main road. The length of the bridge is 185 meters with a width of 7.5 meters.

People travelling from, southern, eastern and western parts of the country have to pass through this bridge to reach popular tourist locations, Kumana, Ulla Panama and Uhada. With the completion of this bridge over 22,000 families in the area will be benefited.

Super highways

The first stage of Matara-Colombo super highway project has been completed at a cost of Rs 30.5 billion and is the second largest project after Mahaweli Development Project. With the completion of the highway the 131 Km journey from Colombo to Matara will be reduced from four hours to one and a half hours.

The construction of Colombo-Katunayaka Expressway (CKE) at a cost of USD 292.4 million has also commenced with the financial assistance from the Chinese government.

The construction of proposed Colombo-Kandy highway will also commence shortly. The feasibility study of this project had already been done and the Malaysian government has offered financial assistance to implement this project which will also commence in 2007.

Railway Projects

The long awaited railway track extension project from Matara to Kataragama have already started and construction work is in progress. The first stage of this project from Matara to Beliatta will be completed by March 2007 and the entire strength will be ready by year 2008.

A luxury shuttle rail services will also be commissioned shortly between Bandaranaike International Air Port and the Fort Railway Station, Colombo. This project will be handled by Changzou Railcar Propulsion Centre (CRPC) of the People's Republic of China. The (CRPC) is one of the key Railcar operators in China.

Under this project diesel-powered multiple units, each consisting of six air-conditioned luxury coaches will be provided. A new entry platform along with a new rest room with all modern amenities will be built at Fort Railway Station.

The main sub-stations between the two destinations will also be modernised. The existing track between Katunayaka and Colombo Fort will be improved for high speed travel. New railway crossings will also come up to ensure safety and security of motor vehicles.

In addition to this a new high speed track will be built from Ja-Ela to Katunayaka Airport. With the implementation of this project the traffic congestion on Colombo-Negombo road will be reduced.

The construction of five railway bridges at a cost of Rs. 1800 million with the financial assistance from Austrian government will also be completed shortly.

The new bridge over Kelani River will be the largest railway bridge that ever to be constructed since the time of the colonial rulers. The length of the bridge is 275 meters.

In addition, another four more bridges at Seeduwa, Ja-Ela, Pinwatta and Kalutara have also been constructed out of these funds. An additional provisions has also been made available for future expansion of railway lines over new bridge for proposed luxury rail services to Katunayaka Air Port from Colombo Fort.

The railway signal colour lights system that was destroyed by the Tsunami have been replaced upto Panadura which will be extended upto Matara by next year.

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