The Government has resumed work on the long-stalled Kandy Multimodal Transport Terminal (KMTT) Development Project, with completion targeted for May 2027, according to Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways Dr. Prasanna Gunasena.

Dr. Gunasena stated that the project, which had seen only 10% progress before being halted, was now being actively developed to address the severe traffic congestion and air pollution in Kandy, a city that rivals Colombo in traffic density.

The KMTT is envisioned as a major transport hub integrating bus and railway networks, aiming to streamline urban mobility in Kandy. The terminal will also include a hospital, ensuring that essential services are accessible within the hub. 

Dr. Gunasena noted that Kandy suffered from high levels of air pollution due to its geographic positioning among cloudy mountains, which made improved transport infrastructure a necessity.

He added that in tandem with the KMTT, the Government was introducing a park-and-ride system to further reduce congestion. 

He claimed that three key corridors into Kandy had been identified for this initiative, namely, the Colombo-Kandy route via Peradeniya (A1), the route through Katugastota, and the Tennekumbura route.

For each corridor, large parking areas will be established under the supervision of the Urban Development Authority (UDA). 

Land acquisition is already underway, with the Eriyagama site along the A1 secured. Discussions are ongoing with relevant stakeholders to secure land for the remaining two corridors.

A recent high-level meeting saw participation from the UDA, the Minister of Land, provincial governors, and key officials, reaffirming the multi-agency commitment to the project. 

Dr. Gunasena stated that while the Transport Ministry would lead the initiative, other ministries had pledged to fulfil their roles to ensure smooth execution.