Facelift for Galle Road with WB funds

by Ranil WIJAYAPALA

The remaining section of Galle Road within the Colombo city limits and Duplication Road will be brought on par with the Galle Road in Kollupitiya at a cost of Rs. 2.5 billion as part of the World Bank funded project to improve infrastructure within the greater Colombo area, Colombo Mayor A.J.M. Muzammil told the Sunday Observer.

“We will go ahead with the other Galle Road and Duplication Road development projects with World Bank funding next year”, he said.

There are many components to the project and the Colombo city and the Metropolitan area will benefit under this project, he said. “The immediate infrastructure development component is about Rs. 2.5 billion for the Duplication Road, Galle Road walk-ability improvement and public convenience improvement”, he said.

Two pedestrian overhead bridges will also be constructed at Bambalapitiya and Kollupitiya under this project to facilitate pedestrians to cross the road without any hassle.

Improvements to the beach front will also be completed under this project by developing beach parks for leisure at the Marine Drive and at Crow Island.

“The frontrunners of the project will be the Galle Road and Duplication Road walk-ability improvement and public convenience”, he said.

The design and construction supervision consultancy contract has been already awarded and the designs will be completed in four months. Construction work will commence in six months. “We have also have a target date for completion because the Commonwealth Heads of States conference will be held in October 2013. We need to complete the project by then”, he said.

He said the Colombo city and the Greater Colombo area will receive Rs. 15 billion for infrastructure development, such as canals development, linear parks around the Beira Lake and micro drainage improvement in 15 locations in the Colombo city as flood mitigation measures.