Sri Lanka Megapolis initiative kicks off with light rail project
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File picture of an LRT system.
A Light Rail Transit (LRT) system for mass transit in the Western Province has been approved by the Cabinet of Ministers, kicking off Sri Lanka’s much-hyped Megapolis project., While the long term plan developed by the Megapolis team includes an LRT network of approximately 75 km, the initial investment is to cover around 25 km connecting Fort, Kollupitiya, Bambalapitiya, Borella, Maradana, Rajagiriya, Battaramulla and Malabe, the Megapolis project team said in a media release. The initial segments of the LRT system will be elevated, given the high density of existing development. The LRT system is also expected to interconnect with the rail and bus networks to provide part of an integrated solution.
Funding for the project is being sought by the Government through a concessional financing facility from Japan. “The Megapolis transport strategy places a sharp focus on improvement of mass transit. The overall plan includes introduction of a light rail system, electrification of railways, modernisation of the bus transportation system as well as an introduction of canal transport. It also includes the implementation of some immediate measures such as introduction of CCTV monitoring to strengthen enforcement, introduction of staggered working hours, synchronisation of traffic light systems, etc,” the release said.
It quoted Ajita de Costa, Chairman of the Western Region Megapolis Project, as saying that “Finding a sustainable and long term solution for the city’s increasing congestion is one of the primary targets of the Megapolis project. The introduction of LRT will be truly transformation for our city. Achieving consensus within government around this critical intervention after much debate is also an achievement”. Light rail, also referred to as light metro, is a proven technology used in many countries as the preferred mode of mass transit. It forms the backbone of transport networks in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, New Delhi, Calgary, Gold Coast, Dallas, Los Angeles and many other major cities worldwide.