Under Kandurata Udanaya initiative:

Major facelift for Kandy

* Rs 116 billion allocated

* Bogambara prison to be relocated

Rasika SOMARATHNA

Kandy – the World heritage metropolis is set for a major facelift under the Presidential initiative Kandurata Udanaya during next five years, with a Rs.116 billion allocation to promote various development initiatives.

Media and Communications Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, a political representative of the people of Kandy over a long period, told the media yesterday that the city would be developed and facilities expanded maintaining its cultural values, historical significance and scenic beauty.

The Minister noted that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had taken aboard all constructive proposals in this regard in a series of discussions held with stakeholders in Kandy during the weekend and had instructed officials to go ahead immediately with both long and short term plans while strengthening the ongoing ones.

Outlining the ambitious development drive the Minister said that emphasis had been laid on the welfare of the city dwellers, minimizing congestion, expansion of infrastructure, adequate drinking water and streamline the transport sector cum road network.

As an immediate measure several steps are to be taken to ease the existing congestion in the city including expansion of roads, shifting the Bogambara prison, commuter tunnels, better maintained bus stops etc. In this context development of all roads both within and immediate vicinity of the city are to be brought under the Road Development Authority on a temporary basis with developed roads to be handed over to relevant authorities later for maintenance.

Both the William Gopallawa Mawatha up to Peradeniya and the road leading to Katugastota bridge are to be expanded to four lanes. In addition two circular roads too are to be constructed.

A two Km tunnel from near Bogambara Prison to Buwelikada too is to be constructed at a cost of Rs 03 billion. The Prison is to be shifted ensuring 13 acres of prime land in the midst of the city for other development.

Consumer friendly shopping mall, vehicle parks etc. too are in the offing.

The entire Peradeniya town to is to be shifted to Iriyagama which is a kilometre further down Colombo road. The area is to be developed as the gateway to Kandy – a heritage corridor, with many tourist attractions. Meanwhile, according to Highways Ministry Secretary Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda the Kandy – Colombo expressway is to be enacted as a fully Government venture with the President successfully negotiating with the ADB for a loan of US $ 500 million to complete the first phase.

The Expressway would consist of four lanes with capacity to accommodate two more lanes in the future. This would limit the travel time between the two cities to 45 minutes.

The Expressway would be built on elevated concrete wire ducts in order to minimize the taking over of personal property and to mitigate effects of natural hazards such as floods.According to Kandy GA during the period of 2006–2009 the Government has spent Rs. 42,785 million for various developments. As a result the poverty index in the district has gone down by 08 per cent during the time.

Minister Rambukwella announcing the Kandy development drive yesterday also noted that the changing functional mechanism of the hill country capital would benefit the central province as a whole.