China Metallurgical Group Corporation (MCC):

A very challenging project

Sara Pathirana

With the Colombo-Katunayake Expressway to be ceremonially opened today this much anticipated project which commenced its initial stages had come into being through the guided and supportive attributes of the main contractors, China Metallurgical Group Corporation (MCC).

The project, which had commenced operations in August 18, 2009, the contract was signed in 2008 and took four years to complete. Lending his insight to the Sunday Observer, Dong He Ping, Project Manager and Contractor's Representative proclaimed that this project would become Sri Lanka's very first venture that had been characterized accordingly to Chinese specifications.

"With funding from the Exim Bank of China, this project, which involves a good number of innovative developments, has been introduced for the Sri Lankan public. Speaking of developments, taking the project as a whole, the contents would involve the entire stretch of land of 30.5km of access and link roads, including the mainline alone, which is 25.8km," Dong said.

With the combination of 40 over and underpass bridges, viaducts and 107 culverts structure-wise, this was a turnkey EPC Contract (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) handled by MCC. The CKE project helped boost a Sri Lankan labour of more than 1200 workers over the past four years, excluding 500 skilled Chinese workers which included technicians as well, joined along initially from the conceptual stages of the project.

"Local sub-contractors were also boosted through the project. We managed to receive the best from the best in the country and that included around 20 reputed contractors, among them being CML-MTD Construction Ltd., NEM Construction (Pvt) Ltd., TDP Construction, Sage Solutions (Pvt) Ltd. And State Development and Construction Corporation, Mascon Industries and Asset Engineering Ltd to name but a few." Dong acknowledged.

Even though this might have seemed like an easy venture having had the opportunity of gaining Chinese assistance, Dong explained that this project had been very challenging and everyone involved have had their fair share of difficulties thrown at them. "We had to face an issue when we realized that there was 13 km of soft ground, from a total of 25.8 km, which eventually, had to be treated. So, basically, the highway had been constructed on a majority of marshland. Great effort had been laid out and we still managed to finish in due time. All necessary requirements have been met through every challenge we faced."

The handling of the soft ground was just one issue. There were settlement issues with regard to works that had to be faced. At one point, traffic related problems had been time-consuming and tiresome where at an instance, during the construction of an underpass under Negombo Road, managing construction during traffic was a challenge if not for the effortless assistance given by the Traffic Police during the course of the project.

"At the moment, ongoing work entails the build of a monument which is being erected at the Peliyagoda entrance along with two other structures near the New Kelani Bridge," Dong said.

He also added that, this project, which required an investment of around USD 340 million, would stand out as an environment-friendly project. MCC had worked to introduce noise barriers which had been erected on either side of the mainline where residential areas happen to be located. Made out of a special technologically enhanced fibre material for noise control, it will help reflect noise propagation towards the residential areas.

About 5000 plants have been erected and tree specialists had partaken in this venture for plantation purposes. The expressway had been constructed with the inclusion of a 2m median, providing enough space for pulling over, in case of an accident or emergency. SOS telephone booths have also been erected every one km apart, for emergency purposes as well. Throughout the total distance of the expressway, streetlights have been added.

"To be attentive in terms of good monitoring, 14 closed -circuit television (CCTV) camera systems have been introduced extending throughout the whole expressway, allowing for good monitoring. Staff is being trained at the moment in handling and maintenance of CCTV. We had also introduced two weather and wind speed detectors. Such attributes would assist gradually in the penetration of more innovative and development factors for future infrastructure development in Sri Lanka. We would disclose this venture as the Sri Lanka-China Friendship Expressway," Dong added.

Dong relayed that this project would not have become what it is today if it wasn't for the great support and cooperation they had received from the Sri Lankan public. Over the years, both countries have succeeded in forging a great partnership and continue to hold an iron-clad bond. "Speaking of future development in Sri Lanka, I would like to add that more road developments in terms of introducing elevated roads and bridges would enclose a great boost," Dong said.

He further disclosed that MCC, with the ongoing changes that the country is going through right now in terms of infrastructure, the company have been allotted the third stage of the Outer Circular Highway-North Section 2 (OCH NS2) from Kerawalapitiya to Kadawatha, which they anticipate to being operations before the end of the year and focusing to complete construction in 42 months time.

MCC had not stopped just there but have gone to the lengths of introducing Sri Lanka's first Electronic Tolling Electronic System or ETC which would include a Pre-paid ID (issuing of OBU tag). The On Board Unit or OBU as it is called would be obtained from the Road Development Authority (RDA) who are working on issuing the tags for regular drivers. This would mean that the 18 toll booths along the expressway would entail manual or electronic tolling system. The electronic method would help save time, in term, helping to minimize traffic in the process.

"A Customer Care Centre will also be set up soon for the drivers convenience and assistance. The Prepaid method would mean that if the customer would prefer to electronically use the tolling system rather than manually, their OBU can be credited with cash in advance and scanned at the tolling booth, everytime the customer would pass through. A reader is erected at the toll-booths and the driver can just scan his or her card and move ahead," Dong added. Dong enthusiastically divulged that the project, overall, had been a great experience of a partnership that had worked out well, contentedly and with the right cooperation, as one big team.

"I would like to especially thank the Government for their untold support, R. W. R. Pemasiri, Secretary of the Ministry of Ports and Highways & other officials, Road Development Authority, Project Director PushpaGunaratne and Consultant of SMEC International , all the sub-contractors, local agencies, Sri Lanka Customs, Dept of Immigration, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), National Water Supply and Drainage Board, Airport Aviation, Lanka Electricity Company (Pvt) Ltd. (LECO),Sri Lanka Telecom. Of course, we should also thank the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation (SLLRDC) for providing the land, Central Environmental Authority (CEA) and the Seeduwa, JaEla and Wattala Pradeshiya Sabha's for their untold support along the way. Through their contributions, this result had been achieved," Dong acknowledged.

MCC is China's largest metallurgical engineering contractor and one of the world's most active overseas contractors, with business operations in over 90 countries. With 55 subsidiaries, it ranked 280th among the Fortune Global 500 in 2012. MCC is a central state-owned enterprise (SOE) engaging in EPC (engineering, procurement and construction), natural resource extraction, papermaking, equipment fabrication, and real estate development.