Complete overhaul for southern railway

By Uditha KUMARASINGHE

The Government has decided to completely upgrade the Southern railway line from Matara to Colombo Fort in three stages. The Transport Ministry will commence upgrading the Southern railway track from Matara to Galle under the first stage, from next January.

The Indian Government has pledged to provide financial assistance to implement this project, a Transport Ministry spokesman told the Sunday Observer. The entire railway track from Matara to Galle will be fully rehabilitated under the first stage of this project, with new sleepers and rails. The second phase of the project would upgrade the railway line from Galle to Kalutara South while the railway line from Kalutara South to Colombo Fort will be fully renovated under the third phase of the project, he said.