AIR PICThe Sri Lankan government has said that it will consider restarting the 2.2 billion dollar Light Rail Transit project, stretching from Colombo Fort to Malabe.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency, JICA, funded project was abruptly terminated by the previous regime in 2020.
Urban Development and Housing Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said the government is ready to renew the project contract with JICA. He said the loan has favourable conditions including low-interest rates, and a grace period of 12 years.
The minister added that the LRT project will provide a better transportation system to ease severe traffic to Colombo during peak hours and will have economic benefits on several fronts.
The proposed service can complete the journey from Malabe to Colombo Fort within 30 minutes during peak hours and operate a train every 10 minutes during off-peak hours.
Currently the route which goes across the seat of the administration, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte faces severe traffic and congestion during peak hours.
In September 2020, former president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa had instructed the Transport Ministry to terminate the l project as it was perceived to be very costly.
It was felt that the project was not appropriate or cost-effective, transport solution for the urban Colombo transportation infrastructure.