Renovation of Dahaata Wanguwa almost complete

Irangika Range

Almost 95 percent of the renovation work of the stretch of road from Udathenna to Mahiyanganaya for widening the 18 hair-pin bends on Kandy- Mahiyanganaya main road (A-26 ) has been completed.

“It is expected to be opened by President Mahinda Rajapaksa by next month,” Ports and Highways Deputy Minister Nirmala Kothalawala told the Daily News. The road which is popularly known as the Dahaata Wanguwa Para has been widened and carpeted from Hasalaka upto Ududumbara, Hunnasgiriya at a cost of Rs. 4,700 million with a view of easing the high traffic congestion while reducing the dangerous nature of the road due to the narrowness and precipitous surroundings. He said that the length of the road is 41km (Udathenna-Mahiyangana) which has been renovated under financial assistance of the Asian Development Bank for smooth flow of traffic.

The 18 hair-pin bends were widened on a special request by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. However, the 18 ancient sharp winding bends will remain even if the road is widened. The Deputy Minister said that President has instructed the officials to renovate the road without causing any damage to the historical value and natural beauty of the Kandy-Mahiyanganaya road which has a history of over 2,500 years. Nine bridges and 437 box culverts too have been constructed along the road. Meanwhile, the roadway has been widened to prevent road accidents and made suitable for local weather and geographical conditions.

The Minister said the renovation of the road would provide easy accesse for nearly 3,000 vehicles plying on the road daily. The A26 Kandy-Mahiyangana route is the main road connecting the Central, Uva and Eastern provinces. The road will open up several opportunities for the people living in the Eastern province which is currently being developed under the “Negenahira Navodaya” the Deputy Minister added.