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by Dr. C. D. A. Goonasekera, Coordinating Secretary, Professionals for the Nation

Kandy is the second capital city of Sri Lanka. It is a relatively small town situated in the center of Sri Lanka surrounded by a close mountain range. The city itself is a tourist attraction for its natural beauty especially that of the lake situated in the middle of the city. The 'Dalada Maligawa', a temple of Buddha placed at the side of the lake attracts many pilgrims, locally and internationally, daily. During festival days the town is packed with people. The Asgiriya International Cricket Ground has further enhanced the image of the city.

Nothing is more damaging to the natural beauty of this town than the traffic jams and the pollution that follows. Often at peak hours getting across the town may take a couple of hours. The main reason for this is inadequate by-pass roads but constructing those would be a difficult task due to the geographical location.

The roads in town have been expanded to the maximum and there is no other space or place for any other roads. Therefore, we have to look for alternative means of reducing traffic within the city limits, preserving its beautiful environment.

An electric train that will transport people in and out of the city limits to vehicle parks situated away and making public transport attractive for city commuting seems the answer. An electric train will add no pollution to the environment.

There shall be no noise pollution. A train that runs on a track laid above the currently available motor roads seems most cost effective. In this regard we propose the establishment of a "Mono Rail" for Kandy. The monorail can function as a circle line, with many stops at the center of the city.

For example Peradeniya Gardens, Mulgampola, Katukele, Asgiriya, City center, Kandy Hospital Complex, Royal Mall, Gatambe Temple, Peradeniya Main Campus, Akbar Hall, Peradeniya Junction and finally Peradeniya Gardens seems ideal. The train could be automatically driven and many of the same can follow each other every 2-3 minutes depending on the customer demand. The automatic doors shall make the transport safe to all.

The "Mono Rail" means that this train shall run on a single rail mounted 15-20 feet above the road level. The pillars that mount this train shall be no larger than an electric lamp post.

Thus, no extra space will be necessary to construct this and shall not interfere with the current traffic flow, as there shall be no crossings. The cost of implementation shall be affordable and shall also be the first-ever "Mono Rail" established in Sri Lanka. This facility shall no doubt be an asset for this astounding city of Sri Lanka, Kandy.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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