Electric train system soon between Negombo and Colombo
View(s):An Electric Train System between Negombo and Colombo is to be soon installed under a contract recently signed between the Airport Express Air & Rail Company (Pvt) Ltd of Malaysia (AEARC) and the investors.
The contract was signed by Dr. Shawana Khdir Ali, President of Premiere Global Assets Ltd, and Dr. Parimalan Rajo Michael, AEARC Managing Director with US-based Newport Global Group Ltd. Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake participated to grace the occasion, in a project that has no government links and is totally private.
A media release issued by a PR agency on behalf of the promoters, said Dr. Parimalan Rajo has a special attachment to Sri Lanka as his mother hailed from Sri Lanka. His father was from India and in 1941 had joined Indian Railways; later he had joined Sri Lankan Railways and when he was working in Sri Lanka met his wife.
“Dr. Parimalan Rajo is an expert in promoting and developing business concepts in Malaysia, Thailand and Philippine,” the release said.
AEARC says it spent around US$5 million to carry out a detailed feasibility of the 47 km high speed train. The proposed project comprises 42 km of rail track between Negombo and Colombo Fort. Two terminuses have already been identified to be built at Katunayake Airport and Fort. The track will comprise two parallel railway lines between the destinations.
Cabinet approval has been given to create two exit points in Bopitiya and Kerawalapitiya, facilitating more traffic access to the Metro. The proposed railway route would go along the airport road, then cross the Negombo lagoon and connect to the new Katunayake Expressway through an elevated rail track.