Published : 12:03 am January 1, 2015
- Ircon Engineering completes rail track to Kankesanthurai
The newly-built railway track between Jaffna and Kankesanthurai covering a distance of 18 kms will be commissioned and dedicated to the public of Sri Lanka by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on 2 January.
“This is a historic occasion as the train service will recommence on this section after a lapse of 24 years,” said Ircon International Project Director S.L. Gupta. “These rail projects spreading over 252 km in length are being funded as part of the $ 800 million Line of Credit extended by the Indian Government,” said Gupta.
Ircon International, a State-owned construction firm of India, operating under Indian Railways, is executing the 252 km long Northern Railway reconstruction project. IRCON is one of the largest engineering construction organisations of India and is a pioneer in railway construction. It has a global presence in 23 countries, with 113 completed infrastructure projects away from India. Apart from this, it has completed over 324 domestic projects in India.
IRCON specialises in transport infrastructure projects and the company undertakes the construction of railway lines, station buildings, tunnels, airport terminal buildings, roads and highways, bridges and flyovers, railway electrification works, signalling and telecommunication works, buildings, mechanical and electrical projects.
A trial run was successfully conducted on 28 December with Minister Douglas Devananda, Sri Lanka Railways General Manager V. Amaratunga, AGM Operations Nalaka Bandara and Pallai-KKS Project Director Prem Kumar along with other senior officers from Sri Lanka Railways, CECB and IRCON being present.
The trail run, which started from Jaffna station, ended at the newly-constructed Kankesanthurai station. The distance of 18 kms was covered in a period of 20 minutes. The trial run was declared successful. The new track will provide very efficient train travel to commuters with reduced travel time and comfortable riding quality.
During the trial run, many local people were seen cheering the train. Considerable excitement and enthusiasm was displayed by the public regarding the commencement of train services after a gap of almost a quarter century.
The corridor has two crossing stations at Kondavil and Chunnakam and five halt stations at Kokuvil, Inuvil, Mallakam, Tellipalai and Mavittapuram.
The railway tracks from Omanthai to Kankesanthurai and Medawachchiya to Talai Mannar Pier were completely destroyed during the prolonged ethnic war conflict. The Government of India extended its support to the Government of Sri Lanka to rebuild the 252 km railway track in the Northern Province by providing a line of credit of $ 800 million.
Sections between Omanthai to Jaffna (129 km) and Medawachchiya-Thiruketheeswaram (69km) have already been made operational and with the opening of this Jaffna-KKS section, a total of 215 km track length will be completed. According to Gupta, the remaining 37 km long stretch between Thiruketheeswaram and Talai Mannar Pier is due to be completed by March 2015.
“The reconstructed railway track is designed with a speed potential of 120km per hour. Rail joints have been avoided using ultramodern welding technology. Latest technologies like pre-stressed concrete sleepers, CMS (Cast Manganese Steel) crossings with standard turnouts, long welded rails with switch expansion joints, modern signalling and telecom, mechanised tamping and packing, etc. have been incorporated to provide a long-lasting track, with minimal maintenance effort,” said Gupta.
He emphasised the fact that for the execution of this project, local manpower and agencies have been deployed to generate local employment as well as skills development.
From Daily FT : http://www.ft.lk/2015/01/01/president-to-commission-kks-track-tomorrow/
