Traffic plan from Monday to ease congestion on the road

A new traffic plan is to be  introduced from Monday between 7.30 a.m. and 8.45 a.m. to ease the congestion in Colombo, the Police Department said yesterday. Traffic DIG Amarasiri Senaratne said there was heavy traffic along Sri Jayewardenepura Road from parliament and Battaramulla towards Colombo. The most congested stretch has been identified as that leading from Welikada Junction to Devi Balika Vidyalaya because buses enter Cotta Road via the Welikada Junction. Under the new traffic plan all vehicles coming from Battaramulla to Colombo will be diverted to Sri Jayewardenepura Road opposite the Welikada Police to the Ayurveda roundabout while vehicles leaving Colombo will be diverted to Cotta Road from Borella towards Battarmulla, local media reported. Vehicles travelling along Nawala Road to Battaramulla are advised to use Sri Jayewardenepura Road and then turn right towards Sarana Road and then enter Cotta Road. Meanwhile, police said Sri Jayewardenepura Road from Devi Balika Vidyalaya to Horton Place Roundabout would be made one-way for vehicles entering Colombo. Vehicles from Kollupitiya towards Welikada are instructed to travel passing the Horton Place roundabout, Nanda Motors Junction, Independence Square, Gregory’s Road and Kynsey Road. From Kynsey Road vehicles will be diverted to the Kanatte Roundabout, Old Bullers Road and then to the Devi Balika Junction. Police said a traffic rehearsal would be held on Saturday from 10.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. and on Sunday from 7.30 a.m. to 8.45 a.m. Police said another traffic plan to ease the congestion in Maragama would be introduced. They said a new road would be opened at Maharagama for vehicles coming towards the town along High-level Road.