Road Master Plan to cost US$ 7500m

Ramani KANGARAARACHCHI

The total investment required to implement the National Road Master Plan which is expected to complete by 2017 comes to US$ 7500 million.

This includes US$ 500 million of existing external commitment, US$ 500 million for domestic funds for ongoing projects, US$ 700 million for the private sector participation, US$ 2900 million for new external commitment and another US$ 2900 for new projects.

Chairman Road Development Authority M.B.S. Fernando making a presentation organised by the Chamber of Construction Industry on "Importance of Transport Infrastructure for National development said the Master Plan includes 2000km improvement to two lanes, 480km improvement to four lanes, 560km expressways, 300 junction improvements, 20 grade separation, Connections to ports, airports, and growth centres, facilitate public transport and improved maintenance.

There are seven public private partnership projects in the national plan namely Colombo Kandy alternate Highway, OCH from Kadawatha to Kerawalapitiya, Toll highway from Galle Road to Malabe, New highway from Anuradhapura to Jaffna, Extension of Southern Highway to Weerawila, rehabilitation of National Highways, and Performance based Road Maintenance.

The anticipated budget for 2009 is Rs 81,183 through domestic sources, foreign loans and grants,

Fernando pointed out that the construction cost for the Colombo Katunayake Expressway, Southern Expressway and Outer Circular Highway alone costs US$1652 million and there is a high cost of construction work with regard to road alignment on difficult terrain in order to avoid acquisition of buildings, delay of land acquisition, public protests against acquisition and delay in payment of compensation.

However, a better transport infrastructure is vital for the economic growth in the country and in turn this will reduce high poverty levels and growing regional disparity, improve road safety and poor public transport, reduce urban traffic congestion.