Cabinet approval for Sanguppiddy bridge, road rehabilitation

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

The Cabinet approval has been granted to two Cabinet memorandums presented by President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Minister of Highways and Road Development to rehabilitate Murunkan - Silawathurai road and to construct Sanguppiddy bridge on Navatkuli - Karativu - Mannar road, Cabinet Spokesman and Information and Media Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said.

Addressing the weekly Cabinet press briefing held at the Government Information Department Auditorium yesterday Minister Yapa said the Cabinet approval granted to rehabilitate Murunkan - Silawathurai road which is B - 299 road (0 - 15.2 kilometres). The road will be rehabilitated under ADB funded Conflict Affected Area Rehabilitation Project (CAARP). The total cost of the project will exceed Rs. 500 million. The two contractors are V.V.Karunaratne and Company and Messrs, Consulting Engineers and Contractors (Pvt) Ltd.

According to the Minister 28 contracts for the rehabilitation of 137 kilometres have already been awarded and work on 14 contracts is now completed. Work on 11 contracts is currently in progress and work on 3 contracts was terminated due to adverse security conditions that prevailed during mid project. The Cabinet approval has also been granted to construct Sanguppiddy bridge on Navatkuli - Karativu - Mannar road which is A - 32. This road is also known as Mannar - Poonaryn - Karativu road. Sanguppiddy ferry crossing is located along A - 32 and the Road Development Authority (RDA) intends to construct a steel bridge across this ferry crossing so that a smooth flow of traffic could be maintained. As an initial step, it is suggested to construct the sub-structure.

The approximate cost of the bridge is Rs. 150 million and will be met from the consolidated funds. The two contractors are M-1 Bridge Contractors and P-1 Contractors.