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Trial train run reaches Madhu:
Ircon International completes rail project
A trial run was conducted on the completed new railway track between
Medawachchiya and Madhu Road, covering a distance of 43 kms recently.
MPLN Peiris, Project Director of Sri Lanka Railway, M P De Silva, Team
Leader of CECB and S L Gupta, General Manager of Ircon International
Limited, undertook the trial run on April 23. Other officers from Sri
Lanka Railway, CECB and Ircon also participated in the trial run. The
trial run commenced from Medawachchiya station and ended at the newly
constructed Madhu Road Station.
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Medawachchiya Madhu test run |
"The trial run was successful and comfortable and we are very pleased
that this phase of the project has been completed," said Gupta.The
reconstructed track is a 43 km long segment in the northern railway line
project, comprising a 252 km route length, which is being executed by
Ircon International Limited, a government company under the Ministry of
Railways India. The project is funded by the Government of India, under
the Indian Line of Credit. "This segment is now dedicated to the public
of Sri Lanka and has been completed well within the scheduled completion
date," said Gupta.
The reconstructed railway track is designed with a speed potential of
120 kmph. Rail joints are minimized using the latest modern welding
technology. Pre-stressed concrete sleepers have been used to lay the
track, instead of traditional wooden sleepers to ensure durable and
stronger tracks, simultaneously helping to preserve the environment. CMS
(Cast Manganese Steel) crossings with standard turnouts, long welded
rails with switch expansion joints, panel interlocking, flash butt
welding, etc. have been incorporated to provide a long lasting track,
with minimal maintenance effort. "For the execution of the project,
local manpower and agencies have been deployed to generate local
employment as well as for purposes of skills development," Gupta said.
The railway tracks from Omanthai to Kankesanthurai and Medawachchiya
to Talaimannar were completely destroyed during the conflict.
The India has extended its support to the Government of Sri Lanka to
rebuild the 252 km route length track under the 800 million US$ lines of
credit. The entire project is scheduled to be completed in 5 phases and
all segments of the project are progressing well according to schedule,"
Gupta said. |
