Islandwide massive road development programme underway

Hemanthi Guruge

A massive programme is underway to develop more than 3,740 kms of provincial roads islandwide under the direction of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

About 25 kms of provincial roads will be carpeted and developed in each electorate under this programme implemented by the Economic Development Ministry.

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa said that a large number of provincial roads throughout the country will be carpeted and developed within the next few months. Through this expansion process, rural road development will undergo a massive change, he added.

More than 325 kms of roads in Gampaha, 167 kms in Colombo, 203 kms in Kalutara, 375 kms in Kurunegala, 310 kms in Galle district and others will be developed. In addition to these, roads in the Northern Province and Eastern province will also be developed under the Uthuru Wasanthaya and Neganahira Navodaya programmes.

Minister Rajapaksa has now initiated a programme to develop provincial roads islandwide and analyze the development process. The minister has already instructed officials to complete the work on time.

Duties have been entrusted to state organizations to develop and carpet provincial roads.

This massive road development programme is implemented by state organizations such as the State Engineering Corporation, Maga Neguma, Western and Southern Province Road Development Authority under the supervision of RDA.

A large number of roads that come under the central government were developed by the government during the last several years. But provincial roads had not been maintained properly since sufficient funds were not allocated for this purpose.