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ADB provides soft loan to improve rural road network within five years
The Government is to launch a multi-billion rupee rural road network project with the help of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to be completed within a five year period, Road Development Authority (RDA) Chairman R.W.R.Premasiri said.
He said the project spanning a 10 year period is estimated to cost Rs. 120 billion which will be completed with the aid of an ADB soft loan. The project will commence from the Southern province where roads will be developed in the Matara, Hambantota and Galle Districts at a cost of Rs. 2.3 billion for which money has already been allocated.
He said 185 rural roads spanning 600 kilometres will be developed while 115 kilometres of 14 ‘B’ grade roads will also be developed under this project. He said road development projects in the Sabaragamauwa Province will begin next and similar projects will also be carried out in the other provinces as well.
He said the objective of the project will be to link 1,000 villages to the main towns.
Mr. Premasiri said President Mahinda Rajapaksa has proposed launching the project to link the villages with the towns. “This will help to transport agriculture produce to the towns enabling rapid economic growth,” he added. The project will be carried out under the supervision of the RDA and the respective contractor will be responsible for maintaining the road for a five year period if it is a ‘B’ grade road and for three years if it is a rural road.