Government expends Rs. 36,894m on roads

by Uditha KUMARASINGHE

The Government’s investment on national roads was around Rs.36,894 million from January - May this year. This includes the Rs.11,363 million on expressway development and Rs.17,526 million on development of highways islandwide.

According to the Mid-Year Fiscal Position Report 2012 issued by the Finance and Planning Ministry, the Government has expended Rs.6,943 million on widening and improving national roads, Rs.294 million on bridges and flyovers and Rs.768 million on tsunami affected road rehabilitation.

The Government has also spent Rs.8,939 million to develop provincial roads during this period. Rs.1,715 million and Rs.2,800 million have been spent to develop rural roads under the Maga Neguma and Gama Neguma programs, the report said.

The Government has also invested about Rs. 6,889 million to develop the power sector during the first five months of this year to ensure 100 percent electrification. Of this amount Rs.3,838 million was to improve generation facilities. In addition, Rs.2,133 million, was expended on electricity distribution and Rs.918 million to develop the electricity transmission system had been invested during the period.

According to the report also the investment on the water supply and sanitation sector during the first five months of this year was Rs.12,998 million. In addition, Rs.888 million had been invested during the same period to develop 55 small and medium scale water supply schemes.