Pettah lands for Megapolis transport hub

Cabinet approves Rs. 8.2 b for flood reduction:

By Chandani Jayatilleke

The Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development has sought Cabinet approval for three major projects for immediate implementation. The three projects are public transport improvement, waste management and flood reduction interventions within the Western Megapolis region.

Cabinet last week approved Rs. 8.2 billion for 2016 to implement eight projects under the storm water drainage improvement plan.

“We expect the Cabinet nod for the implementation of the transport project over the next couple of week,” Minister of Megapolis and Western Development, Patali Champika Ranawaka told the Business Observer.“Our ministry has prepared a master plan for modernizing the bus and rail transport systems in consultation with professionals, experts and other stakeholders.

The plan looks at all aspects of transport systems such as LRT, BRT, monorail, elevated roads and transport multi modal hubs,” he said.

The master plan document submitted to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Management (CCEM) headed by the Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe outlines immediate measures to tackle the transport and road traffic issue in the Western province. The plan was prepared with the support of the Transport Ministry and the Highways Ministry.

Hence the project will be implemented in collaboration with these two ministries.

Meanwhile a master plan on waste management has also been submitted to the cabinet for their approval.

Under the transport plan, the Minister said five hubs will be created which include Pettah, Kadawatha, Kottawa, Panadura and Peliyagoda.

Some lands in Pettah will be acquired for this purpose.

“The Pettah manning market needs to be relocated to Peliyagoda. We will also acquire lands from Manning market, the Bastian Road up to the Maradana technical college junction to create the main multi modal transport hub in Pettah.” The Pettah traders who will get affected by this project will be given new opportunities in the new transport hub, he added