DMRC help sought to put Colombo ‘on track’

The feasibility report prepared covered two lines in Colombo. “Though the report was presented to the Sri Lankan authorities a couple of years ago,there wasn’t any progress on the project,” Anuj Dayal,DMRC spokesperson,said. “Earlier,delegations from Sri Lanka and DMRC had visited each other but there wasn’t any development on the project as such.”

The DMRC is yet to prepare a detailed project report for Colombo but this visit might see the project finally taking off.

The project plan so far envisages a lightrail system for Colombo that will help reduce traffic congestion and provide quick access to the city centre. Expected to cost Rs 4,410 crore,the elevated lightrail project will have two lines,from Moratuwa to Kiribathgoda and Pelawatta to Colombo Fort,both along existing highway corridors.

“We have received a letter from the Board of Investments,Sri Lanka,asking us to visit them and ratify a feasibility report for their mass rapid transit project,which has been prepared by another consultancy. The project might be a lightrail but suggestion will be made only after we have considered the passenger load and traffic conditions,” Anuj Dayal said.

The DMRC has also prepared feasibility reports for Lahore in Pakistan,Syria,and Jakarta in Indonesia. “Though there has been no progress in the Lahore project yet we hope it will be taken forward. The DMRC is all set to extend expertise to other countries now,” Sreedharan said.