Kandy Times

Ambitious plans to shift and develop Kandy town

By L.B. Senaratne

At the District Coordinating Committee meeting, presided by Posts, Telecommunications and Udarata Development Minister D.M. Jayaratne, Central Province Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake said the President had initiated a “Mahanuwara Development Committee” under which many new plans would be introduced for the development of the area.

He also said that the Kandy town would be shifted to Pallekelle and added that with the building complexes at Pallekelle, arrangements would have to be planned for water, which would be a future problem.

Proposals for the development of Kandy could be placed before this Committee, he said and added that the District Coordinating Committee members would form its members along with others.

The Road Development Authority’s Provincial Director said the Kandy Car Park was underutilized and that a study should be made to fully utilise it. He added that the Car Park was established to ease the traffic congestion, but that its purpose had been lost as no serious prior study had been made.

The Director also said that the time had come to divert sand transporting lorries from Mahiyangana to Katugastota. He said that the traffic congestion in Kandy was due to the sand transporting lorries running through the town, especially around the Kandy Lake.

He suggested ways and means to overcome this and a recommended that a study be made of the routes that were suitable for heavy vehicles. He also suggested that these lorries be ordered to ply during the nights.

The Chief Minister also said these matters could be included in the proposed Mahanauwara Development Committee when it sets up offices at the Kandy Secretariat.

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