Tube trains for Colombo

Nimal Rajapakse

TRANSPORT: The New Railway Track Development Ministry has decided to introduce an underground tube train system to Sri Lanka. According to Minister Mahinda Amaraweera this would be first constructed around the Colombo City and the suburbs.

The main objective of introducing a tube system to Sri Lanka is to ease the traffic congestion and also reduce the number of vehicles coming into the city. Amaraweera said this would benefit people to reach areas in the Colombo City within a very short time at peak traffic hours.

Basic studies for this proposed subway rail system have been carried out and it has been decided to construct the tube system around Borella, Orugodawatta, Narahenpita, Kirulapana, Bambalapitya, Wellawatte and Slave Island.

"We have identified areas where there would be adequate land allocation for the project. The underground rail system will be also linked to the main railway stations as well.

"The Ministry is engaged in preparing final plans for this project and it will be implemented under the Mahinda Chintana.

This tube train system is implemented successfully in Europe and some Asian countries including Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. The system was also introduced in India recently.

The Ministry is also studying the possibility of leasing out the land to a foreign company on a long-term lease so that they would build the tube system and operate it (BOT). The Ministry will also extend the Kelani Valley railway track from Avissawella to Hambantota via Ratnapura and Embilipitiya.

It is also proposed to connect this track to the proposed extended Matara, Kataragama railway line that would get under way this year.

It is also proposed to build a new railway track from Matale to the Economic Centre in Dambulla this year. "With these two projects, the Government hopes to provide a better transport system for the agricultural sector," the Minister said.