MG Consultants and ECL combine selected by RDA to empower rural regions via road network improvement

RDA Chairman Prof. J.M.S.J. Bandara (left), MG Consultants Managing Director Ranjith Gunaratne and Engineering Consultants Managing Director Prabhath Jayasundara 

Further cementing its credentials in nation building and developing public infrastructure of the country, MG Consultants Ltd. (MGC) was selected by the Road Development Authority (RDA) along with the veteran consulting firm’s joint venture partner, Engineering Consultants Ltd. (ECL), to provide construction supervision and contract management for the proposed upgrade and maintenance of rural access roads to the extent of 596 kms in the Southern Province. 

The two parties signed an agreement which entails providing construction supervision for improving the connectivity of the road network in rural areas, thereby empowering the rural population to play a more proactive role in nationwide economic and social development.

The proposed upgrading and maintenance of rural roads is managed by the Integrated Road Investment Project of the Southern Province (iRoads – Southern) and funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The Ministry of Highways and Investment Promotion is the executing agency of the iRoads – Southern project while the Implementing Agency is the Road Development Authority (RDA). 

The joint venture partners of MGC and ECL have accomplished a great feat by being the only local consultancy firms to secure a construction supervision contact under this project, since two of the three projects under iRoads were granted to partnerships led by international consultancy firms.

The iRoads – Southern project is part of the Integrated Road Investment Program (iRoads), designed to upgrade and maintain around 2,200 kilometers of rural access roads and rehabilitate and maintain around 400 kms of national roads under three projects: in the Southern Province; in the Central Province, Sabaragamuwa Province and Kalutara District of the Western Province and; in the North Central Province and the North Western Province. 

The ADB is providing a loan facility of $800 million to fund rural and national road upgrades in the six provinces under this project. The iRoads – Southern project will connect 150 Grama Niladhari Divisions (GNDs) within Galle, Matara and Hambantota Districts, of which 65 GNDs are in Galle District, 45 in Matara District and 40 in Hambantota District. These GNDs have been selected based on the existing road conditions and the need for development.  

The proposed upgrading of existing roads includes the widening of roads facilitating two lanes and surfacing the existing pavements with asphalt concrete. In addition, the proposed upgrade includes repair or reconstruction of damaged culverts, introduction of earth drains and built up drains where necessary and the removal of any irregularities on the existing vertical profile. 

These upgrades are expected to lead to an increase in vehicle operating speeds while ensuring the safety of road users. The construction scheduled for completion within two years, with another three-year maintenance period being assigned for the project. 

As leading consultancy companies in the infrastructure development sector, the joint venture partnership between MGC and ECL has made a substantial contribution to the development of the country’s infrastructure, which includes providing consultancy expertise for the building of expressways, highways and rural roads. 

MG Consultants bring extensive experience in construction supervision and expansion of road network in Sri Lanka, having provided construction supervision for projects funded by both international donor agencies such as ADB, JBIC, Saudi Fund and the Government of Sri Lanka. The reputed consulting company is poised to expand its business to the South-East Asian region in the near future.