Southern expressway nearing target
Irangika Range
Ninety percent of the construction work of the third section of the
Southern Expressway from Kurundugahahetekma to Pinnaduwa (30km) done at
a cost of Rs.24 billion has been completed.
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Highway project
* Ninety percent of work completed
* To finish by 2010 with ADB aid. |
Southern Transport Development Project Director S.Meihandan told the
Daily News that the construction work on this stretch was carried out
with aid from the Asian Development Bank which is expected to be
completed by 2010.
He said that plans are afoot to commence the construction work of the
last stretch of the highway from Pinnaduwa ( Galle ) to Godagama (Matara).
The length of the stretch is 30-km. The total estimated cost for the
fourth phase is Rs.18.7 billion which will be funded by the China Exim
Bank. He said that the Southern Highway development project was launched
in accordance with the Mahinda Chinthana concept to boost the GDP growth
by 10 percent in the South.
The total length of the Southern highway is 126km and will link
Colombo with Matara which has suffered decades of neglect.
The highway has four lanes which in scheduled to be completed by
2011. The total estimated cost of the project is Rs.85 billion
The first phase of the Highway spans from Kottawa to Dodangoda
(34.3km) while the second stretch is from Dodangoda to
Kurundugahahetekma (31.7km).
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Japan Business Corporation (JBIC)
have funded for three phases. In addition, there are eleven access
points to enter the Southern Highway. Therefore, these access points
such as Kottawa, Kahathuduwa,Galanigama, Dodangoda, Levanduwa,
Kurundugahahetekma, Beddegama, Pinnaduwa, Deegoda, Kokmaduwa and
Godagama will be developed as modern townships with this project.
The project would greatly reduce travel time which promote easy
movement from the southern areas to Colombo within a short period. This
opportunity will enhance the economic activities as well.
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