Modernisation of northern railway line between Maho and Omanthai begins

by PRIYANDE SILVA

The modernisation of the 130 km of railway track between Maho, in the North-Western Province, and Omanthai, in the Northern Province commenced at a ceremony attended by Minister of Transport, Highways and Mass Media Dr Bandula Gunawardena and High Commissioner of India, HE Gopal Baglay, held near the Medawachchiya railway station,on Sunday (08).

The existing railway track between Maho and Omanthai is over 117 years old and 12 crossing stations, eight halt stations, 213 culverts, 90 bridges and 80 level crossings are to be upgraded. The work is being carried out by IRCON International, a subsidiary of the Indian Railway, at a cost of 91,268,599.60 USD under a special Indian Credit line. The Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau (CECB) has been appointed as consultants to the project.The modernisation will enable trains to run on the line at a maximum speed of 120kmph which will reduce the travel time between Colombo and Jaffna by about an hour.The work is expected to be completed in five months and until such time the train services on the northern line will be terminated at Anuradhapura.