Toll service on Southern expressway users

Uditha KUMARASINGHE and Irangika RANGE

Highways and Road Development Minister T.B. Ekanayake told Parliament yesterday that the Government through the Expressway Authority will charge a toll from Southern expressway users.

A toll of Rs. 3 (per km) will be charged from users of light vehicles while Rs. 6 (per km) will be charged for medium vehicle users.

Meanwhile, Rs. 9 (per km) will be charged from heavy vehicle users.

"Vehicle users will be charged by a toll during every journey when they use the expressway," he said.

The Minister was responding to an oral question by JVP MP Ajith Kumara.

He said the Asian Development Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency and the Nordic Development Fund will provide financial provision to construct the Southern Expressway. He said the initial estimated cost for the project is Rs. 21 billion. Work on the expressway is due to be completed by 2010.

Meanwhile, the Road Development Authority is monitoring work of the project on behalf of the Government.