Thandikulam - Omanthai stretch to cost Rs. 400m

by Lalin FERNANDOPULLE

Commencing the Northern railway service is a reminiscent of the country’s age old transportation which bridged the North and the South bringing prosperity to people.

The protracted war derailed relations between people in the North and the South resulting in a long lull in development in the country.

Railway, the prime mode of transportation for little over a century had to be confined to Vavuniya for the past two decades. A glimpse of the past could be seen by the roofless railway stations and staff quarters.

The progress made on the Northern railway lines is a sigh of relief for the people who will be able to visit their kith and kin and resume businesses soon.

The CGR has completed the three and half kilometre stretch from Vavuniya to Thandikulum and plans are to complete the stretch up to Omanthai by April.

General Manager, CGR, P.P. Wijesekera said work on the project is progressing smoothly and added that the stretch from Thandikulum to Omanthai is estimated to cost around Rs. 400 million.

The Omanthai - Pallai stretch which is estimated to cost around US$ 140 million will be completed with assistance from India.

Negotiations were being held with a Chinese company to extend the line from Pallai to Kankesanthurai and also with IRCON of India to do up the branch line from Medawachchiya to Talaimannar.