Central Expressway II phase earns over Rs. 10 m in first 3 days of opening

Highways Minister Johnston Fernando yesterday said that an income of over Rs. 10 million was received from over 50,000 vehicles within the first three days of the opening of the second phase of the Central Expressway.

“Income generated by the new section of the Central Expressway during the 24 hours from Sunday midnight to Monday was Rs. 4,865,500. A total of 23,039 vehicles had used the expressway from Kurunegala to Mirigama. This was the highest income and vehicles recorded within the first three days of its opening,” the Minister said.

The second phase of Central Expressway, also known as ‘Ethugalpura Entrance’ from Mirigama to Kurunegala was declared open to the public on Saturday under the patronage of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Motorists were allowed to use the newly opened 40.91 km stretch of the Central Expressway toll-free till Sunday afternoon, while the toll booths had been operational from 12 noon onwards.

Built at a cost of Rs. 149 billion by Sri Lankan contractors with locally sourced funds, avoiding townships and urban areas to minimise environmental and social contact. It was also said that the Meerigama to Kurunegala window was currently recognised as the most scenic expressway stretch in Sri Lanka.  

Five interchange points with toll booths have been constructed at Meerigama, Nakalagamuwa, Dambokka, Kurunegala and Yaggapitiya in the 40.91 km stretch.