WP’s ailing public transport system to improve
Sri Lanka is set to introduce far-reaching improvements to the Western Province’s ailing public transport system, a senior Government Minister disclosed. Public transport intervention is to be given priority under this initiative where the railway is expected to play a vital role with a Rapid Transit System (RTS) providing fast access to Colombo central and suburbs. The Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development has devised a plan with the assistance of a committee of transportation experts to modernise the bus service, introduce electrified railway system, a modern Rapid Transit System and inland water transport using a brand new boat/ferry service that utilises the Western province canal network.
The Treasury will allocate US$663 million to modernise the Colombo city’s bus service integrating with the proposed Rapid Transit System (RTS) and railway. A complete restructuring of the railway has been proposed under this mega project spanning 20 years at a cost of $3.1 billion.
A total of 196 km of existing railway lines will be electrified under this project, with an additional 52 km added to the existing railway line.
This will transform the entire public transport in Sri Lanka by introducing a Light Rail Transit (LRT) system that is projected to transport up to 30,000 passengers per hour in a particular direction.
The Government has abandoned the widely anticipated monorail system for Sri Lanka and instead opted for light rail as a remedy to heavy traffic congestion in Colombo, official sources revealed. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Management (CCEM) has decided to recommend this system after the Minister of Megapolis and Western Development Patali Champika Ranawaka indicated that light rail was the feasible transport mode for the Colombo city. Representatives of the Japanese Ministry of Economic, Trade and Industry expressed their government’s interest to assist to improve Sri Lanka urban transport system through the provision of a yen loan to the government.
A complete feasibility study is to be undertaken by the Japanese experts as the government is interested in introducing the LRT system, the minister told the Business Times. It was reported that several pre –feasibility studies have been done on transport modes while a JICA team worked on Mono Rail systems. Therefore it was agreed by both the ministry and JICA that the feasibility study could be completed in a year’s time due to data availability from previous studies. The CCEM is to recommend to the Cabinet to select Light Metro Railway system to be implemented in the next four years and complete the feasibility study in one year with the assistance of JICA.
A draft cabinet memorandum submitted jointly by the Ministry Transport and Ministry of Megapolis recommends appointing a cabinet appointed negotiation committee and call for Expression of Interests to invest in Multi –Model Transport hub at Fort/ Pettah to integrate all transport modes. Minister Ranawaka noted that both Japanese and French companies have expressed their interests to invest in a multimodel transport hub. Subrana Jurong of Singapore has also expressed interest in the Megapolis Master Plan projects. This plan seeks to establish a multimodal hub at the heart of Colombo that will integrate transportation, logistics, and leisure facilities.
The main hub will be located in Fort/Pettah, with 11 multimodal centres in Horana, Kottawa, Kaduwela, Kadawatha, Panadura, Negombo, Avissawella, Gampaha, Meerigama, Ragama and Moratuwa. The government will also utilise the under-used canal system to provide a safe and comfortable mode of transport for the citizens of Colombo at a cost of $125 million. New boats and ferries equipped with air conditioning will provide a safe commuter service between Wellawatte – Battaramulla, Fort – Union Place and Mattakkuliya – Hanwella Line, he added.