Megapolis to kick-start on Jan 29

by Ranil Wijayapala

The much awaited launch of the Megapolis Development Plan, the flagship development initiative of the government will take place on January 29 at the Independence Square Colombo, Secretary to the Megapolis and Western Region Development Ministry, Nihal Rupasinghe, told the Sunday Observer.

The project will unveil opportunities for local and foreign investors to invest in the projects which are derived from the Megapolis Master Plan, he said.

The Government in the budget proposals presented in November 2015 allocated Rs. 10 billion for the series of projects that are earmarked for implementation under the Megapolis Development Plan.

According to the initiative, the government intends adopting a four- pronged strategy to build a 'Megapolis' which will be constructed within three phases, running between the years of 2016 to 2030.

Megapolis and Western Region Development Minister Champika Ranawaka, recently disclosed that the first phase of the plan would span from 2016 to 2020, while the second and third phases of the project will span from 2020 to 2030.

"The proposed Megapolis will be built with public and private investment as well as public and private partnerships and foreign direct investment," Minister Ranawaka said.

The Cabinet gave its nod for the preparation of the large-scale plan in April 2015 and the preparation of the master plan was done after setting up task forces to look into each vital component, including waste disposal, land use, housing, transport and others.

The initiative has identified priority concerns in the area of town development and seeks to address traffic congestion, garbage disposal and housing facilities for slum dwellers, drinking water and sanitary facilities, among others.

It envisages the development of demarcated regions in the Western Province under a zoning system, creating different cities in different regions within the highly-populated Western Province.

The controversial Colombo Port City Project will also incorporated in the same plan and will kick start in the immediate future. Minister of Megapolis and Western Development, Patali Champika Ranawaka while handing over the plan to President Maithripala Sirisena said that Sri Lanka will be able to raise US$ 30 billion worth investment within the next decade through this ambitious project that seeks to convert the island's Western Province into a cluster of infrastructurally- developed and livable cities.