Road network around Central expressway to be developed

Thursday, 1 March 2018 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Government this week decided to enlist services of Indian engineering consultancy company RITES Limited to provide advisory services, to improve the road network connecting with the planned Central Expressway, Cabinet Co-spokesman Minister Gayantha Karunathilaka said.

As the road development project linking Colombo with the hill capital Kandy is expected to generate increased traffic in the outer roads running from Galagedara to Kandy, the Government plans to develop Katugastota to Galagedara into a four lane road. Further, another four lane road is to be developed as a bypass road in Katugastota.

The Government of India has agreed to provide a line of credit financing the project. RITES Limited, an Indian government-owned engineering consultancy company, is being appointed as the consultant for a fee of $ 885,000, with the approval of the Indian counterparts, the Cabinet has been told.

The project is for the improvement of roads which join the Central Expressway in Kandy and surrounding areas, and will be funded with a loan from India’s Exim Bank, Karunathilaka said.