Several projects to ease traffic congestion

The government had allocated funding, from the 2021 Budget for a number of initiatives to reduce traffic congestion in Colombo and its suburbs, Minister of Highways Johnston Fernando said recently at a meeting with Road Development Authority (RDA) officials.

“Funds have been allocated for flyovers, underground and overhead pedestrian crossings and bypasses to reduce congestion,” he added.

The Minister said already areas where flyovers and underground and overhead pedestrian crossings were necessary had been identified. Flyovers would be built at Kohuwala, Baladaksha Mawatha, Uttarananda Road and Justice Akbar Mawatha.

“Flyovers are also to be built at Muttettugala, Yangalmodara, Alawwa and Mahawa in the Kurunegala district and Getambe in the Kandy District,” the Minister said.

Minister Fernando said that one of the main reasons for traffic congestion in urban centres was the lack of designated pedestrian crossings. Underground and overhead pedestrian crossings needed to be built to reduce congestion as well as to improve the safety of the pedestrians.

“Underground and overhead pedestrian crossings are to be built near Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation, Rajagiriya, SLIT, President’s College, Rajagiriya, Prince and Princess of Wales Colleges, Moratuwa, and castle Hospital, Colombo. Underground pedestrian crossings are to be built in Kottawa and Ratnapura too. Bypass roads will be built at Ratnapura, Warakapola and Ragama. We will also develop Borupona Road, from Hospital Road, Kimbulawala to Thorana Road, Pannipitiya. Through this road, people can easily reach Ratmalana airport and Galle Road,” Minister Fernando said.

Fernando also said an alternative road would be built connecting Chandrika Kumaratunga road and Thalahena to reduce traffic in Malabe town. An alternate road connecting Chandrika Kumaratunga road and Aturugiriya too will be developed.