President to commission five new bridges

Irangika RANGE

The five newly constructed bridges Verugal, Kayankerni, Ralkuli, Gangei, and Upparu on the Batticaloa-Trincomalee road (A15) in the Eastern Province will be commissioned by President Mahinda Rajapaksa next week.

Ports and Highways Deputy Minister Nirmala Kothalawela told the Daily News that five bridges have been constructed at a cost of Rs.2,974 million under the "Neganahira Navodaya" project. "These bridges will play a keyrole in connecting the Batticaloa district with the Trincomalee district," he said. Until the construction of new bridges, the people used ferry boats to cross the respective lagoons and rivers. Now these bridges will allow river crossings easier where ferries or long detours which took hours.

The government successfully constructed these bridges within a short period. He said the new bridges will reduce travel time by two hours and around 100 km of distance on the road between Trincomalee and Thirukkodiyamadu. He added that the connectivity brings several communities closer together.

The bridges would rapidly improve the living conditions restoring basic social infrastructure, community and public services of a large number of people living in both Batticaloa and Trincomalee districts.

The Kayankerni bridge which is 85 meters in length has been constructed at a cost of Rs.202 million while Verugal bridge which is 105 meters in length was constructed spending Rs.250million.

Meanwhile, Ralkuli, Gangei and Upparu bridges with lengths of 175 meters, 245 meters and 315 meters had been constructed at a cost of Rs.571 million, Rs.956 million and Rs.995 million respectively.