Kandy-Katugastota road marred by jams

S M Jiffrey ABDEEN-Kandy South Group corr

Public travelling between Kandy and Katugastota are put to much hardship due to traffic jams and traffic snarls which is often experienced in the mornings and evenings.

Last Monday evening was one such day when it took over 90 minutes to travel this five kilometre stretch from Kandy.

The traffic started from Hill Street and it went at very slow pace often coming to a standstill.

When it came near the level crossing it was virtually at a standstill as the traffic from the Cemetery Road flowed into Katugastota Road. Next it was the bottle near Mahaiyawa tunnel which is also a sort of a blind corner. It is not easy for lorries and long wheel based vehicles to pass each other.

The traffic snarl continued beyond the tunnel till Mawilmada junction and the situation eased from here onwards with some of the vehicles diverting to Mawilmada and Watapuluwa.

It appears that the problems stems from the fact though a broad new bridge was constructed recently but the roads leading to it from has been not widened and the vehicles are compelled to travel single file.

People travelling to their homes after a hard day's work are compelled to waste their time on the road.

People state that this situation could be partly overcome if a road is built from the end of Mahaiyawa Cemetery to fall at a point beyond the Mahaiyawa tunnel, it will be not only shorter but also it will avoid the bottle neck situation near the tunnel.