Northern railway reconstruction with Indian help

Irangika RANGE

The Sri Lanka Railways will sign a contract with IRCON International Limited of India to reconstruct the Northern railway line from Medawachchiya to Madhu Road at a cost of US$ 81 million.

The Northern rail track along this stretch from Medawachchiya to Madhu Road and its railway stations were severely damaged by the LTTE during the war.

A Sri Lanka Railway spokesman said the distance from Medawachchiya to Madhu Road is 43 km and the construction is expected to be completed within the next two and half years.

The stretch will be reconstructed enabling trains to travel at a speed of 120kmph on the Northern railway line.

IRCON International Limited will undertake the construction of the railway track, platforms, bridges, culverts and also the supply of rolling stocks from Medawachchiya to Madhu Road.

Two crossing stations in Cheddikulam and Madu Road with one sub station in Neriyakulam Kovil will be reconstructed under this project.

Latest technology will be utilized to construct and the track structure would consist of long welded rails and concrete sleepers.

IRCON also signed a contract with the Railway Department to reconstruct a 90km railway track between Omantai and Pallai. The company expects to complete the construction within two and half years. It will cost US $ 185 million.

As a result of the war, the train services on the Northern rail track were limited to Vavuniya only for the last 30 years.

Under the Uthuru Mithuru project, the construction work on the Northern railway line has been accelerated. Trains are now operating up to Thandikulam on the Northern railway track and it would be extended to Omanthai shortly.

He said the Railway Department is engaged in restoring the railway line up to Omanthai. The new railway station in Omanthai is now being reconstructed at an estimated cost of Rs 20 million.

The spokesman said that 27 railway stations from Thandikulam to Kankasanthurai are to be reconstructed anew by 27 sponsors who have already been found by the Government under the Uthuru Mithuru project.

The Army is carrying out de-mining activities to clear the area so that the railway line can proceed northwards, he said.

The Government estimates that it would cost nearly Rs 14 billion to restore the entire rail track by 2010 under the Uthuru Mithuru program designed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.