140 projects launched under Megapolis

A facelift for the Western Province is in the offing as the Megapolis project kicks off 140 development projects to boost infrastructure and lay the groundwork for larger ventures.

Western Region Megapolis Planning Project Director Lakshman Jayasekera said under the Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development, an estimated $62,000 has already been earmarked for these projects.

Elaborating further at a public seminar organised by the Ceylon Institute of Builders (CIOB), Jayasekera said that these diverse projects initiated in the Western Province encompassed the development of the transport system and roadways, energy and water resources, construction of urban dwellings and cities, re-establishment of administrative cities, setting up of industrial, tourism, science and technology cities, port and airport development and similar projects aimed at giving this key region a new identity.

After Jayasekera’s address, a panel discussion followed where participants sought further clarifications on the projects initiated by the Western Region Megapolis Development Plan and also offered solutions to pressing issues raised in the forum.

Ceylon Institute of Builders Adviser Professor Chitra Wedikkara, Construction Industry Development Authority (CIDA) Chairman Condrad Tissera, Sanken Construction Ltd. Managing Director Eng. Major. Ranjith Gunatilleka, Tudawe Brothers Ltd. Chairman Eng. Rohan Tudawe and Dr. T.L. Pradeep, representing JLanka Technologies Ltd., a CIOB green mark holder, participated in the round-table conference.

Expressing his views on the Western Region Megapolis Development Plan, CIOB President Dr. Rohan Karunaratne said that building companies in the industry were eager to play an active role in building activities under this initiative. These building-oriented companies were optimistic that they would be afforded the opportunity of participating in this process through an acceptable, reasonable and transparent mechanism which ensures a level playing field, he stressed.

The Western Region Megapolis Development Plan is a long-term, 15-year project. The ultimate goal of this initiative is to work concertedly towards enhancing the per capita income of the people of the Western Province, provide housing facilities to the growing population, improve lives and livelihoods and generate more viable employment opportunities.

Under the Western Region Megapolis Master Plan, it is envisaged to establish Industrial cities in Horana and Mirigama, create a Science and Technology city in Malabe, set up a plantation city in Avissawella, modernise the public bus transport system, build more expressways, initiate an electric train service and launch transport services using the internal network of canals and waterways. To elaborate more on the plan, the second seminar is scheduled to take place on 19 May, at which the subject ‘Transport, SME Sector, IT Science City and Incubators’ will be discussed.