RDA to repair damaged roads

THE Road Development Authority (RDA) is to complete repair work on roads damaged by the recent rains and floods soon, RDA Director General R.W.R. Premasiri told Lankapuwath.

Despite many roads being damaged due to recent rains and floods, the RDA would attend to only the damaged roads under their purview.

The 'A' and 'B' Class Roads classified as national roads that the RDA has to maintain is 11,000 kilometres. However the public is under the impression that the maintenance of roads were given over to Provincial Councils created in terms of the 13th Amendment to the constitution.

The responsibility of the Colombo Municipal Council is to maintain all roads within the Colombo City.

According to the 2006 Budget, there is an increase in funds for road maintenance under the Mahinda Chinthana manifesto, Premasiri said.

Meanwhile, motorists and the public complain that the maintenance and reconstruction of roads in Colombo suburban areas have come to a standstill despite complaints to authorities.

Residents in Werahera, Boralesgamuwa say the reconstruction of the ADB funded Gangarama Road Project is still not completed even after one and half years.

Motorists and residents are inconvenienced owing to the failure to carry out the reconstruction work properly by the contractor, KDA Company Limited. Maharagama Cancer Hospital Road, Aravuwala-Bokundara Road and Maharagama-Wattegedera Road are also in a dilapidated condition.

The reconstruction of the Maharagama-Wattegedera Road commenced a few months ago and work was terminated recently owing to the protests by some residents.

They complained to the RDA against the acquiring of their lands for road widening. Residents urged the authorities to complete the widening of the road and to lay a proper drainage system as their home gardens go under water even during a slight shower.