Southern expressway nearing target
by Irangika Range
Ninety percent of the construction work of the third section of the Southern Expressway from Kurundugahahetekma to Pinnaduwa (30km) done at a cost of Rs.24 billion has been completed.
Southern Transport Development Project Director S. Meihandan said that the construction work on this stretch was carried out with aid from the Asian Development Bank which is expected to be completed by 2010.
He said that plans are afoot to commence the construction work of the last stretch of the highway from Pinnaduwa (Galle) to Godagama (Matara). The length of the stretch is 30-km. The total estimated cost for the fourth phase is Rs.18.7 billion which will be funded by the China Exim Bank. He said that the Southern Highway development project was launched in accordance with the Mahinda Chinthana concept to boost the GDP growth by 10 percent in the South.
The total length of the Southern highway is 126km and will link Colombo with Matara which has suffered decades of neglect.
The highway has four lanes which in scheduled to be completed by 2011. The total estimated cost of the project is Rs.85 billion.
The first phase of the Highway spans from Kottawa to Dodangoda (34.3km) while the second stretch is from Dodangoda to Kurundugahahetekma (31.7km).
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Japan Business Corporation (JBIC) have funded for three phases. In addition, there are eleven access points to enter the Southern Highway. Therefore, these access points such as Kottawa, Kahathuduwa,Galanigama, Dodangoda, Levanduwa, Kurundugahahetekma, Beddegama, Pinnaduwa, Deegoda, Kokmaduwa and Godagama will be developed as modern townships with this project.
The project would greatly reduce travel time which promotes easy movement from the southern areas to Colombo within a short period. This opportunity will enhance the economic activities as well.
(Source: Daily News – 16th December, 2009)