On the initiative of the Indian government, the Railways Department is well on schedule to complete the Northern railway line in two-and-a-half years, according to Deputy Chief Engineer, Railways Department, V. Amaratunga.
Amaratunga said that the Railways Department has four ongoing projects in the Northern areas, totalling of US$ 510 million which are scheduled to be completed in two-and-a-half years.
The first among these from Vavuniya to Omanthai, has been completed by the Sri Lanka Railways Department he said.
The Railways Department has commenced laying 90 km of the Omanthai-Pallai track at an estimated cost of US$180 million. This is financed by Ircon, an Indian public corporation associated with the Indian Railways Ministry, he explained.
He further said that the Mannar line would also be financed by Ircon, at an estimated cost of US$ 230 million, for the stretch from Medawachchiya to Talaimannar.
The Sri Lanka Army is in the process of de-mining a 500-metre stretch of land in the Omanthai and Medawachchiya areas. Amaratunga further explained that a 56-km stretch of land from Pallai to Kankesanturai has been surveyed by the Sri Lankan Transport Ministry, while rails, sleepers and points of crossings have been imported from India. This stretch is estimated to cost US$ 100 million, of which US$ 30 million is from India, while the rest would be locally funded.
The rail tracks would be up graded to enable the trains to travel up to speeds of 120 km/hr, while the weight capacity would be increased to 22 metric tons. |
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