ADB funds to rehabilitate access roads to Southern Expressway
The government has been able to obtain financial assistance of Rs
9,348.61 mn (USD 85.0 mn) from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to
rehabilitate roads connecting the Southern Expressway (SE). The total
estimated cost for rehabilitation of the roads is Rs 11,613 mn (USD
105.6 mn). Six access roads to SE are expected to be rehabilitated under
the above project.
These rehabilitation works are crucial to improve the connectivity of
roads and to realize the full potential benefits from the SE. The
government contribution to investment will be Rs 2,265,42 million (USD
20.6 million) while the balance will be obtained as a loan from ADB's
Ordinary Capital Resources (OCR).
The rehabilitation work of the identified road sections will be
carried out under the second phase of the ongoing National Highway
Sector Project (NHSP) which was commenced in 2007 to rehabilitate 270
kms national highways and improving the transport sector regulatory
framework.
Under the second phase of National Highways Sector Project 62 kms of
national highway road sections on Matara-Akuressa (3.40 km), Hikkaduwa -
Baddagana (14.34 km), Horana - Anguruwatota - Aluthgama (23.48 km),
Katukurunda - Naboda (2.72 km), Kirulapona - Godagama (5.33 km) and
Colombo - Horana (12.7 km) are planned to be rehabilitated. These
selected 6 road sections usually experience high traffic volume.
Therefore, the rehabilitation of these 6 road section will facilitate
easier access to the new expressway while improving the transport
efficiency of the national highways network.
The Road Development Authority (RDA) under the supervision of Ports
and Highways Ministry will perform as the project implementing agency.
The project is expected to be completed by 30th June 2016. A loan
agreement was signed in this connection by the secretary, Ministry of
Finance & Planning on behalf of the Government and the ADB Country
Director on behalf of the Asian Development at the Ministry of Finance &
Planning. |