By Maheesha Mudugamuwa
The Road Development Authority (RDA) plans to commence construction work on the long-delayed Section III of the Central Expressway Project (CEP) at the end of this month, The Morning learnt.
Accordingly, construction would be carried out by local engineers attached to the RDA.
A 3 km section would initially be allocated to the RDA for construction as a pilot project, until a suitable investor is finalised through the ongoing tender procedures, a senior official attached to the RDA told The Morning.
He said the necessary funds would be allocated by the RDA, and the construction would be launched to avoid any further delay of the project.
The 34 km Section III, extending from Pothuhera to Galagedara, was to be constructed by a Japanese contractor at an estimated cost of Rs. 135 billion, via a loan obtained from the Tokyo Mitsubishi Bank (TMB) in Japan.
However, a Cabinet decision was recently taken to revoke the contract signed with Japan’s Taisei Corporation for the construction of Section III of the CEP.
Meanwhile, Highways Minister Johnston Fernando said that the stretch of the Central Expressway from Mirigama to Potuhera is likely to be completed by 31 March 2021.
The Minister has also directed the Highways Ministry to submit a report on the expressway from Kadawatha to Mirigama, expressing his dissatisfaction with its progress.
Fernando said the work on the 32.5 km Pothuhera-Galagedara stretch of the Central Highway will begin before the end of the year. “We have also allocated Rs. 40 billion for the payment of compensation to those whose lands will be taken over,” he said.
A 3 km section would initially be allocated to the RDA for construction as a pilot project, until a suitable investor is finalised through the ongoing tender procedures, a senior official attached to the RDA told The Morning.
He said the necessary funds would be allocated by the RDA, and the construction would be launched to avoid any further delay of the project.
The 34 km Section III, extending from Pothuhera to Galagedara, was to be constructed by a Japanese contractor at an estimated cost of Rs. 135 billion, via a loan obtained from the Tokyo Mitsubishi Bank (TMB) in Japan.
However, a Cabinet decision was recently taken to revoke the contract signed with Japan’s Taisei Corporation for the construction of Section III of the CEP.
Meanwhile, Highways Minister Johnston Fernando said that the stretch of the Central Expressway from Mirigama to Potuhera is likely to be completed by 31 March 2021.
The Minister has also directed the Highways Ministry to submit a report on the expressway from Kadawatha to Mirigama, expressing his dissatisfaction with its progress.
Fernando said the work on the 32.5 km Pothuhera-Galagedara stretch of the Central Highway will begin before the end of the year. “We have also allocated Rs. 40 billion for the payment of compensation to those whose lands will be taken over,” he said.