The Ministry of Transport and Sri Lanka Railways jointly implement Colombo Suburban Railway Project in line with the government’s decision that railway transport service should be developed as the cheapest, environmental-friendly and sustainable solution to the ever increasing traffic congestion in the Colombo city and suburban areas, and satisfying the transport requirements of people. The Asian Development Bank extends financial assistance for the development of the railway sector of Sri Lanka.
The government have decided that the Kelani valley railway line should be developed as urgently as possible to provide a prompt solution to present traffic congestion experienced when entering the Colombo city through the Highlevel, Low Level and the Horana roads. Accordingly, as of now, the feasibility study the detailed engineering design have been completed for development of the Maradana-Padukka section of the Kelani valley railway line.
In thorough consideration of various social, economic, environmental and technical aspects, it has been planned to run electric trains once in every 7 minutes at the times of high demand. It has been decided to construct this line from Maradana to Malapalla as an elevated, electric double line.
The salient fact is that the unauthorized dwellers living unsafely in the railway reservation from Maradana to Padukka will be shifted from that environment and resettled in safe and comfortable houses by providing them with the ownership of such property with a view to creating the opportunity for them to achieve a higher living standard. This programme will open the way for the proposed development process and the opportunity for using the Kelani valley railway reservation land of high commercial value for some other sustainable development work.
Accordingly, agreement has been already entered into with the urban Development Authority for obtaining 1244 housing units from those being constructed under the Urban Regenerative Project. 384 housing units have already been released to the Project from the Lakhiru Sevana housing complex in Maligawatta as the first batch of such houses.
261 people dwelling in the section of the Kelani valley railway reservation from the Loco junction to the Seevali lane have been selected for resettling in these 384 housing units which are located close to their present residence in the reservation land. Handing over of keys of the new houses to 110 persons selected as the second batch of them took place under the patronage of Hon. Gamini Lokuge, Minister of Transport and Hon. Dilum Amunugama, State Minister of Vehicle Regulation, Bus Transport Services and Train Compartments and Motor Car Industry on 29.09.2020 at the BMICH. Under the programme, the people who were livingfor a long time without permission in the Kelani valley Railway reservation in unfit housing will come to receive the ownership of houses with facilities and hygiene in housing complex situated in a convenient environment. These people say that this was a great relief for them and their children.
Mr. Monti Ranathunga, Secretary to the ministry of Transport, Mr. Dilantha Fernando, General Manager of Railways, Mr. Palitha Samarasinghe, Director of the Colombo Suburban Railway Project, Mr. E.A.C. Priyashantha, Director(Housing) of the Urban Development Authority, senior officials of the Ministry of Transport, house recipients and the members of their families were present on this occasion.