Construction taboo around rail line in Matara-Kataragama

THE Government has decided to prohibit constructions in the area earmarked for the Colombo-Kataragama railway line.

New Railway Lines Development Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has directed divisional secretaries and pradeshiya sabhas in the relevant areas to refrain from permitting any construction in the earmarked land.

"We have received information that certain people are planning to construct buildings in the area with the intention of increasing the amount of compensation they would receive. The decision to prohibit new construction in the reserved areas was taken to prevent such activities," a Ministry spokesman told the Daily News.

The Ministry has already requested the Treasury to allocate funds for compensating persons whose lands are acquired for the first phase of the project from Matara to Walasgala.

Meanwhile, the agreement to construct a bridge across the Nilwala Ganga which is part of the Kataragama railway line project, will be signed today between the Railways Department and the State Engineering Corporation.

Following discussions between the Ministry and the Urban Development Ministry it has also been decided to create small towns centred around the main railway stations.

The total cost of the Matara-Kataragama railway project is estimated to be around Rs 9.2 billion. It is expected to be completed in 2008.