Minister to look into a new railway line

The Minister of Transport, Highways and Mass Media Dr. Bandula Gunawardena joined an observation about the start of a new electric train service using the railway line that existed during the British rule from the highly touristic Nanu Oya railway station to Nuwara Eliya, Kandapola to Ragala.

The remnants of the old railway line located at the Nanuoya station premises, the remnants of the old railway station located at the Nuwara Eliya Black Pool area and the Nuwara Eliya Ceylon Transport Board Depot premises, as well as the remnants of the old railway line located in the Kandapola area were observed by the minister.

A local or foreign entrepreneur will be allowed to develop the railway line to Ragala, which was created during the British era, as a small electric train project centered on the Nanu Oya railway station, which is a major attraction for local and foreign tourists.

One of the motives of this project is to make the Kandapola railway station, considered one of the six highest railway stations in the world, a destination that can attract more attention of foreign and local tourists.

The minister also exchanged views with the people and tourists of the area, taking into consideration their request to the Depot Superintendent to deploy a special bus from the Nuwara Eliya depot of the Ceylon Transport Board for the train passengers traveling from Nanu Oya to Colombo in the morning from Nuwara Eliya town to Nanu Oya railway station. Accordingly, this bus will be added to run from Nuwara Eliya city to 9 am from next May 2nd at 5.15 am.

Former Minister, Nuwara Eliya District Member of Parliament Mr. CB Ratnayake, Railway General Manager W. A. D. S. Gunasinghe, officials from Road Development Authority, Urban Development Authority and other institutions were also present for this observation.