All keyed-up to set up Jaffna railroad

Chamikara WEERASINGHE

Preliminary arrangements have been made to commence construction activities on the Jaffna Railway Restoration Project, Jaffna Government Agent Emelda Sukumar told the Daily News.

The project is envisaged to operate the Yaal Devi express (Goddess of Jaffna) to run again between Colombo and Kankasanthurai.

The project which costs US $ 800 million will rehabilitate, relay and reconstruct Jaffna railway track along with its train stations and bridges that were damaged due to the war, Railway sources said. Once the track laying is completed, trains will be operated from Jaffna to Colombo and to other parts of the country, the sources said.

Construction activities of the railroad will commence this month with the participation of Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna at the Jaffna Central Railway Station. Jaffna Government Agent Sukumar said: "The Jaffna Railroad Restoration Project is not a mere exercise to connect Jaffna and Kankesanthurai.

'The railway line is expected to serve as a bridge to build fraternity between the people of the North and South," she said."

'That is why it has deviated from other projects and placed under the government's Uthuru Mithuru (Northern Friensdhip ) Infrastructure Building Programme."

She also said the restoration of Jaffna railroad takes place in addition to other infrastructure development projects, such as, development, water and electricity supply projects, under the Uthuru Wasanthaya development drive to facilitate the people of the province.' 'Projects worth Rs 60,000 million are being implemented by the government," she said.

'Everything is ready to commence the laying of the railway track, The railway reserve has been cleared of unlawful occupation and landmines," she said. 'The people removed from their settlements in the railway reserve were resettled," she said.

Railway sources said the Jaffna Railway Restoration Project will consist of relaying of the railroad, rebuilding of bridges, new installation of signalling and communication systems and rehabilitation of the railway stations along its route.