A solution for traffic woes

Flyovers have long been commonplace in developed countries and even most developing countries have them. However, it was only comparatively recently that Sri Lanka saw flyovers, which should be an essential part of the roadways in any country aspiring to be an economic powerhouse.

The obvious benefit of flyovers is reducing traffic congestion. The vehicle population in Sri Lanka has increased exponentially to nearly three million but the roads have more or less remained stagnant without expansion and development. In some cases, the roads cannot be widened due to various constraints. The result is traffic congestion, especially during office and school hours.

The only solution is build alternative roadways, including flyovers. This is why the Government has launched an ambitious programme to build more than 200 flyovers and bridges islandwide. The decision taken by the late Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle to build these flyovers swiftly through the use of prefabricated components was prudent, as traffic congestion has to be addressed immediately. After all, traffic jams mean waste of fuel and time, loss of productivity and increased air pollution.

Many junctions with intersections and/or railway lines are notorious for traffic jams. Nugegoda, the fast developing suburb of Colombo, has always had its fair share of traffic woes. With roads leading to Maharagama, Colombo, Kalubowila and Nawala/Kotte, Nugegoda is a transport and shopping hub with a flow of thousands of vehicles per day. Even the traffic lights installed a couple of years ago on the High Level Road have not had a major effect.

This is where the new flyover, which will be opened today, comes in. The 261-metre long flyover, built in around three months with British aid at a cost of nearly Rs. 1,200 million, will help divert a segment of traffic at Nugegoda and streamline the flow of vehicles. Being the first such flyover at a busy junction, it will be model for road engineers to study and replicate at other such junctions, with appropriate changes. Two more flyovers have been planned for Dehiwela and Rajagiriya.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, whose Mahinda Chinthana includes a separate Maga Neguma (Road Development) section, inspected the flyover on Wednesday morning, signifying the Government's commitment to this sector. The Government has already embarked on the Southern expressway project and a large number of rural road projects. Expressways to Kandy and Trincomalee and an outer circular road for Colombo are on the cards.

The Government faces another challenge - developing the road network in the North and the East. The latter is seeing rapid development under the Eastern Resurgence programme. The entire North is just being liberated. The road network in some areas there is almost non-existent. The A9 is the obvious first choice for extensive repairs, being the main highway linking the North and the South, but attention should also be focused on other roads in the province damaged by years of conflict.

One should also not disregard the importance of rail links vis-à-vis reducing road congestion - if Colombo had a clean, fast mass transit system most motorists would have opted to keep their cars at home. Transporting more goods by train could also reduce the number of heavy vehicles hugging our roads. All these aspects should be considered for incorporation to the much-discussed national transport policy.

Make adversity an opportunity

While the great depression in the 30s sent many an economy crashing there were also countries which emerged from the ashes much stronger and resilient. The catastrophe also opened the eyes of many a nation to the follies in the their economic set ups and prompted them to charter a new course. The world is today in a similar predicament with sturdy Western economies crashing like a pack of cards. And like before while some of them may be mortally wounded there would be others, which would emerge healthier by the experience. It is in this context that one should consider the observation made by the Chairman of the Joint Apparel Forum (JAAF) Ajit Dias. Addressing a seminar on 'Global Financial Crisis and Impact on Economy and Business' in Colombo on Monday he said that "Sri Lanka should make use of the current crisis to grow." There will be many opportunities in the Eastern and Northern Provinces with the end of the war and there will be a lot of potential to grow. There are emerging markets, such as India, China, Japan and Russia and Sri Lanka should make this crisis an opportunity to grow," he said on the prospects of the Apparel Industry.

The potential opened up by ending the long drawn out civil war in Sri Lanka no doubt will provide us with the best opportunity to chart a new course in our economy and emerge out of the economic blues of the world recession. In this respect a prudent macro economic management is a sine quo non. True Sri Lanka has so far being insulated by the global economic melt down but we are soon bound to encounter problems as the full force of phenomenon hits home in many third world countries. What is important is to take a holistic look on the country's overall economic picture instead of piece meal measures and map out a map out a plan that would not only see the country emerge from the downturn but also break out into new frontiers that brought economic success to the countries following the great depression.

What is of concern though as mentioned by the JAAF chief in the brain drain where the well-trained middle managers have left the country particularly with regard to the apparel industry. It is hoped that the prospects of peace, which is beckoning in the horizon, would arrest this trend. It should be recalled the oft-repeated invitation by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to all Lankan professionals and experts domiciled abroad to return and help rebuild a post war Sri Lanka. Their service could not come at a better time when the country is poised to chart on a new course in the development sphere and is also attempting to ward off the challenges brought about by the global economic crisis. The clarion call of the President it is hoped would be heeded by these sons of mother Lanka at this crucial time in her destiny.