19 February 2020 08:24 am
The National programme to develop 100,000 kilometres of roads would commence under the patronage of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in Deltota today.
The objective of the project is to develop 100,000 kms of roads which will directly contribute to the economy of the country and livelihood of the people.
The Roads and Highways Ministry, provincial councils and local government institutions and other institutions related to road development would contribute in developing the roads. Accordingly, the existing road network will be developed by carpeting the road network, identifying and developing alternative roads and developing rural roads. Under this programme, 12,380 kms of roads directly under the Road Development Authority of the Ministry of Roads and Highways will be carpeted on priority basis.
It has been proposed to develop 16,000 kilometres of roads which are part of the provincial road network. Under this programme, alternative roads will be identified and widened to address high traffic congestion in cities such as Colombo, Kandy, Kurunegala, Ratnapura, Galle and Matara. It is also expected to construct alternative roads outside the city as another solution to the traffic crisis. (Lahiru Pothmulla)