Northern railway restoration fast-tracked

Work to be over before due date:

Irangika RANGE

Work on the Northern railway line from Thandikulam to Kankesanthurai and the Medawachchiya-Thalaimannar railway line have been expedited on Transport Minister Kumara Welgama's instruction.

India has provided 425 million US Dollars assistance to Sri Lanka for railway projects expecting speedy reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts in the Northern region.

Minister Welgama inspecting the reconstruction of rail track from Thandikulam to Omanthai recently said the restoration of two railway lines are expected to be finished by the project's due date. Meanwhile, the reconstruction of the Omanthai Railway station which came to standstill for the past few months commenced recently. The Minister who listened to railway workers' grievances instructed officers to take immediate action to pay outstanding allowances of employees working on the Northern railway line extension project.

The 159 kilo metres Northern rail track consists of 85 bridges, 16 stations and 12 sub stations all of which need to be rebuilt. Many State and private institutions have come forward to assist the construction of railway stations in the North.

The reconstruction of the Medawachchiya-Thalaimannar section will be carried out in two stages.