On the road to development
Bandula Seneviratne, Vavuniya North Group
The Mannar Taladi bridge, the longest bridge among the number of
bridges connecting roads and areas of North, is now under construction.
This bridge connects the mainland and Mannar island and it will be a
service to develop the country.
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Construction work progressing on the new bridge parallel to the
old one. Picture by Bandula Seneviratne |
The Thaladi bridge had been constructed in 1930 and it was damaged
due to LTTE atrocities in 1990. It was reopened for transport in 1995
after the renovation according to reports, but only as a narrow bridge.
A narrow road across the lagoon of two kilometres connects the
mainland with the Mannar island by a bridge.
Public and the Security Forces had to face difficulties as the 150
metre long bridge was in a deplorable condition.
It was the expectation of everyone which include thousands of
fishermen and farmers of Mannar as well as businessmen of South that
this bridge should be wider and stronger.
It will soon be a reality as the attention of the President had been
focused on reconstructing the bridge. Owing to the President's
determination of not to slow down the development programs, even when
the humanitarian operations were going on the construction of Taladi
bridge commenced in April 2008 and is expected to complete by May 2010.
Construction of the bridge and the access road is being done under
this project and a Japanese company had been entrusted with the
construction work under the supervision of the Northern Province Road
Development Authority.
The cost of the project is estimated at Rs. 2,460 million. The cost
will be shared by the Japanese Government with a financial assistance
upto the tune of Yen 1,836 million and the Sri Lankan Government.
The bridge is 157.10 metres and the width is 10.40 metres. In
addition, there are pavements on both sides. The narrow road across the
lagoon will also be widened to a length of 3.2km. Construction of two
lane road will include two pavements and a drainage system.
"By now 70 percent of bridge construction and 60 percent of road work
is over," the Chief Engineer of the Vavuniya and Mannar Road Development
Authority said. He said generally 65 percent of the project has been
completed.
Provincial Director of North Road Development Authority Engineer
Moses Mariyathasan stated that the President has fulfilled the
expectations of number of generations by constructing Taladi bridge.
He further said that whatever obstacles come the Government find
solutions to overcome them.
President Rajapaksa has advised him that development work should be
done correctly and efficiently and he should take the responsibility,
Provincial Director said.
In addition to the Mannar Taladi bridge massive road development
projects are being implemented in Vavuniya, Mannar and Jaffna districts
in the Northern Province including Mannar, Poonaryn A34 road,
Medawachchiya-Mannar road and the A9 road.
A number of other projects are being implemented in the North under
the Uthuru Vasanthaya program and the benefits of these projects will go
to the public.
The people's victory will pave the way to development and the victory
of the country. |
