Sunday Dec 15, 2024
Sunday Dec 15, 2024
Friday, 19 July 2013 03:36 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Cabinet yesterday approved three large-scale infrastructure projects worth over Rs. 36 billion, with the largest chunk being given to a Chinese company to construct the Trincomalee Outer Circular Road. The Cabinet paper, which was presented by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, appointed Hunan Road and Bridge Construction Group Corporation of the Chinese Government to the project. The Trincomalee Outer Circular Road will be constructed at a cost of Rs. 34 billion and will be part of the Government’s attempt to convert the eastern city as the metro of the province. “Preliminary work on the project is to be commenced on a priority basis with the finds allocated for the year 2013 and the balance will be provided under the Medium Term Budgetary Framework 2-14-2016,” the paper added. Construction of the Morana Reservoir in Badulla was handed over to the Central Engineering Construction Bureau at a cost of Rs. 1.7 billion. Under this project it is proposed to construct a dam across the Ulhiti Oya and divert water through a feeder canal to Rotagolla Tank and augment the irrigation supplies of the Nagadeepa scheme. The new dam is expected to ensure that the population in Jaffna receive water throughout the year. The initial allocation of Rs. 300 million will be made this year while the rest will be provided in instalments. Galle Road and R. A. De Mel Mawatha will be rehabilitated from Bambalapitiya to the city limits under the third project, which will be funded under the Metro Colombo Urban Development Project. This is financed under a US$ 213 million loan from the World Bank that was obtained by the Government last year. (UJ)
