Four more railway lines before 2014

P. P. G. Sugathadasa, Thihagoda group corr

MATARA: The new Railroad Development Ministry will construct 4 more railway lines before 2014.

The proposed projects include the construction of Matara-Kataragama, Padukka-Ratnapura via Hambantota, Kurunegala-Habarana via Dambulla and Panadura-Horana new rail roads.

The Matara-Kataragama is the largest railway extension. The total length of the same is 113 kilometres and it is expected to be completed before 2014. The total length of Padukka-Ratnapura via Hambantota railroad is 210 kilometres, Kurunegala-Habarana via Dambulla railroad is 80 kilometres.

These projects are also to be constructed before 2014. The proposed Panadura-Horana rail track is of 18 kilometres in length and the construction on the same is to be completed by 2016.

The estimated cost of all these projects is over Rs. 95,300 million.

The Government has declared the railway decade from 2006-2016. All these new railroad constructions are due to be completed during this period the Ministry sources said.