Northern Railway construction in five stages

by Jayanthi COORAY

The project to reconstruct the Northern Railway will be carried out in five stages. Stage I from Vavuniya to Omanthai launched under the Uthuru-Mithuru project is in progress, said Transport Minister, Dallas Alahapperuma.

IRCON International, an Indian construction firm affiliated to the Indian Railways Ministry, has signed an agreement with the Sri Lanka Railways to undertake the construction of the 90km railway track from Omanthai to Pallai at a cost of Rs. 20,350 million.

The construction of bridges and culverts, supply of railway engines and wagons are also provided for in the agreement. The duration of the construction is two and a half years.Trains can speed upto 120km per hour on the new track after its completion, the sources said.