Gampaha station to be modernized

Irangika Range

Transport Minister Kumara Welgama said that action will be taken to modernize the Gampaha railway station and equip it with all facilities. The Government hopes to upgrade the station to world standards.

The Minister inspecting the Gampaha railway station yesterday morning noticed many lands belonged to the Railway Department had been illegally occupied by the people close to the railway track.

"We will acquire all these lands owned by the Railway Department since the people can not occupy government land as they wish," he said.

The Minister also saw first hand the many shortcomings in the railway station. He also listened to the grievances of commuters waiting for trains.

The Minister said he visited the Gampaha railway station following a number of complaints received by him. He noticed that only one counter out of five ticket counters was opened at that moment and the people had been waiting in queues for a long time to purchase tickets.

He instructed officials to immediately open the closed counters to the public since they had missed several trains due to this reason.