News
Central Expressway: Japanese company gets third phase
The Highways Ministry has decided to award to a Japanese company the tender valued at Rs 134.9 billion for the third phase development of the Central Expressway. Highways Ministry Secretary D.C. Dissanayaka said the awarding of the tender had been delayed but it was finalised this week. Work would begin in September and the project was scheduled to be completed in three years.
The expressway project’s third phase will cover the 32.5 km stretch from Pothuhera to Galagedera.The highway will go through Rambukkana, an area popular with foreign tourists because the Pinnawela elephant orphanage and the zoo are situated there. The secretary said this route was chosen as it would also help to develop tourism.
He said the funds would be obtained through a loan from the Mitsubishi Tokyo Bank, which chose the construction company. He said the option for this company to go into a joint venture also was open after cabinet approval was obtained. Mr. Dissanayaka said that initial bids for the project were as high as Rs. 159 billion but through talks, the bid was reduced to Rs 135 billion.
He said the Highways Ministry had received Rs 100 million to pay for land acquisition. The secretary said that when the highway was completed, the travel time from Kadawatha to Galagedera would be one hour.He said the 13 kilometers stretch of road from Galagedera to Katugastota which was to be a two lane road would be increased to four lanes and this section was being developed by an Indian company. There would be three tunnels along the path.