Monorail system could boost Lanka as IT hub
Hiran H. Senewiratne
TRANSPORT: Sri Lanka could be an Information Technology (IT)
hub in the region if the country has a good transport system especially
an efficient monorail electricity train system, Former Minister of
Transport- Karnataka State, R. V. Devaraj said.
MODERN: Indian Monorail engine suitable for Lanka. |
He said the introduction of a Monorail train system to Sri Lanka is
definitely an investment to prevent the motor traffic problem in Colombo
to create a conducive environment for the IT industry.
Devaraj who is a member of the Indira Congress, now in the Opposition
of the Karnataka National State Assembly, has done yeoman service to
develop the transport system in the state, observers said.
During his tenure of office he introduced computerised bus stands. He
also spearheaded the introduction of luxury Volvo buses into the public
transport system for the first time in India. The state government took
a keen interest to improve the entire transport system to develop IT to
this magnitude, he said.
Today Bangalore is known as the Silicon Valley of Asia due to the
development in the IT sector. It is competing with major developed
countries in the world. Devaraj said Sri Lanka has an intelligent
population, which is a plus point to develop Colombo as IT hub in the
region which brings a lot of money to the country since the future of
the world will be based on IT.
COMPARISON: R.V. Devaraj (Picture by Sumanachandra Ariyawansa
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He said that today Bangalore City has become a major IT hub in the
world due to the efficient transport system along with the incentives
provided by the state government under the aegis of former Governor S.
M. Krishna. With the ever-increasing traffic snarls in the city the only
alternative would be to popularise the monorail system, which Bangalore
has been already started off a major under ground monorail project to
enhance the transport system in the State covering major metropolitan
cities to face the future challenges, Devaraj said.
He said that if Colombo to be developed as an IT hub in the region
under ground electric monorail system is the need of the hour.
He further said that the City of Colombo is same in size as Chennai
and an efficient transport system is essential.
He said the monorail is suitable for Sri Lanka because as it is
environmental friendly and is a solution for the city traffic problem in
the country.
Land and other property values have increased dramatically due to
development of the IT sector during the last five to ten years.
Further per capita income in the Bangalore City has increased and it
has more than 23,000 multi - millionaires in the city, he said.
Meanwhile Sri Lanka is also on its way to introduce the monorail
system.
The Government of Sri Lanka signed a Letter of Intent with NEB
Infrastructure (Pvt) Ltd, India to carry out the feasibility study for
the Mass Rapid Transit (rail) System (MRTS) for Colombo metropolitan
area in Colombo recently.
(Bangalore) |