Work on Matara - Kataragama rail track begins this month

Rajmi Manatunga

Work on the rail track of the proposed new railway line connecting Matara and Kataragama is to commence this month.

Railroad Development Director Planning Jayantha Gunatilleke said they will start building the first four kilometres of the 128 kilometre rail line within this month.

The Rs. 9.2 billion project launched last year with the construction of a railway bridge over the Nilwala Ganga is expected to cut down the travel time from Colombo to Kataragama to three hours.

"The Central Advisory Bureau on Engineering Work is preparing estimates for the first four kilometres, which has the most number of bridges and culverts. This is also the area which is mostly affected by floods," he said.

Gunatilleke said the Government will seek foreign investors' assistance to implement the remaining stages of the project.

The Matara-Kataragama rail extension project comprises three phases; constructing the railway lines from Matara to Beliatta, Beliatta to Weerawila and from Weerawila to Kataragama.

The project also includes the construction of four main railway bridges, 20 new railway stations and setting up of new level crossings.