Southern Expressway:

RDA earns Rs 68m in toll charges during first month

Irangika RANGE

The Road Development Authority (RDA) has earned a revenue of Rs. 68 million as toll charges from vehicles which used the Southern Expressway during the first month of its operation, Ports and Highways Deputy Minister Nirmala Kothalawala told the Daily News.

The Southern Expressway was commissioned by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on November 27.

The deputy minister said about 245,513 vehicles entered the expressway through the eight interchanges to travel to their destinations within a month of its opening.

Accordingly, 82,598 vehicles entered the Expressway through the Kottawa interchange, 13,262 vehicles from the Kahathuduwa interchange, 28,650 vehicles from the Gelanigama interchange, 18,277 vehicles from the Dodangoda interchange, 12,353 vehicles from the Welipenna interchange, 17,502 vehicles from the Kurudugahahethakma interchange, 8,422 vehicles from the Baddegama interchange and 61,446 vehicles from the Pinnaduwa interchange during last month.

The authorities collected the highest income of Rs. 25 million from vehicles which entered the Expressway through the toll centre at the Kottawa interchange. Meanwhile, the toll centres at Kahathuduwa, Gelanigama, Dodangoda, Welipenna, Kurudugahahethakma, Baddegama and Pinnaduwa had earned a revenue of Rs. two million, Rs. five million, Rs. three million, Rs. two million, Rs. four million, Rs. two million and Rs. 22 million respectively.

It is reported that 15,256 vehicles had travelled through the Southern Expressway on December 25 (Christmas day). This is the highest number of vehicles to use the expressway during this period.