DEVELOPMENT

Gateway to 'Wonder of Asia' :

Galle tollway opens on Sunday

Shirajiv SIRIMANE

The much awaited and long overdue Sri Lanka's first toll highway the Southern Expressway's first stage from Kottawa to Galle will open on Sunday heralding a new chapter in the transport sector of the country.

The interchange board
The exit to Horana indicated	The paved roadway. Pictures by Roshan Pitipana
The entry ticket	Toll counter at the expressway entrance at Makumbura, Pannipitiya

The idea to construct a highway was discussed for almost two decades and even plans were drawn up with no avail.

A bold decision was finally taken to go ahead with the project by President Mahinda Rajapaksa who also shouldered the burden of financing the project with Rs 6 billion.

The project is being financed by Japan Bank for International Corporation (JBIC), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL). JBIC provided a loan of $2.05bn, while ADB and the government provided $1.03bn and $1.26bn, respectively.

The highway would bring multiple benefits to the business community as it will both save time and energy.

In addition with an estimated vehicle traffic of over 40 percent from the current Galle Road users expected to use the highway congestion too will reduce.

Though most of the people living beside the new highway initially protested today they have become direct beneficiaries as land prices have increased by almost 90 percent especially in areas where tolls have been constructed.

In addition several new businesses especially in the SME sector have opened due to the building of the expressway. One of the biggest beneficiaries of this will be the tourism sector.

Tickets will be issued for vehicles at entry points, while road users will have to pay the toll fee at exit points.

Vehicles will be allowed to enter or exit the highway only through interchanges.

The minimum toll fee will be Rs 100 which will be from one toll point to another while the toll for the entire distance from Kottawa to Pinnaduwa will be Rs 400.

Several safety features have been introduced and the key number that should be remembered in case of an emergency or breakdown is 1969.

The emergency response team has all the required vehicles

Another exit point