Tuesday, 21st October 2014
Answer to traffic congestion in Colombo and Peliyagoda
The elevated sixlane bridge to be constructed in Kelaniya would result in the relocation of 400 low-income households along with a number of high tension power cables in the project area, the Road Development Authority (RDA) said.
Relocation procedures and procurement for consultancy services are being carried out by the authority to facilitate the construction of the elevated Kelani Bridge designed to help ease the traffic congestion in Colombo and Peliyagoda.
The RDA said that the Atomic Energy Agency, National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority and high tension cables laid by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) need to be relocated to facilitate the project. Adding that new land has been allocated for both buildings, the RDA said that these relocations will be financed by a loan obtained from the Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) and it will take at least two years to complete.
The RDA further said that 400 low-income households located in the site earmarked for the project will be relocated. Speaking about the relocation RDA Project Director Darshika Jayasekera said that depending on their preferences the residents will receive either money or a housing unit at the housing complex at Salamulla. “We are currently carrying out the surveying and evaluation of the households. The residents have not decided if they want money or a housing unit. Once the survey and evaluation is completed we will decide on the monetary amounts to be given to the residents who do not want a house,” she said. Jayasekera further said that the bridge will be constructed using Japanese technology and designed in such a manner that no piers need to be constructed on the river bed. The new bridge will extend southwards from the Colombo-Katunayake Expressway and divide towards Port Access Road and Baseline Road. All incoming vehicles from Negombo and Kandy will enter Baseline Road via the bridge.
An elevated highway to be constructed from Peliyagoda to Colombo Fort will also be connected to the bridge at the interchange at the Bandaranaike roundabout. Cabinet approval was given to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and to obtain detailed proposals for the construction of the elevated highway earlier this month. The MoU is to be signed with the Australian company HASS Joint Venture.
The bridge which is to be the gateway to Colombo together with the elevated highway is expected to help ease the traffic congestion within Colombo city limits and the Peliyagoda area.
The RDA said that the basic designs for the bridge have been completed and construction is expected to kick off by the end of 2016. The three- year project will be financed by a loan obtained from JICA.
From : http://dailymirrorepaper.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx
