BOREHOLE TESTING BEGINS UNDER FIRST PHASE
THE RAILWAY LINE IS 8.4 METRES IN WIDTH AND 25 POWER-SETS WITH FOUR COMPARTMENTS EACH TO BE USED TO TRANSPORT 800 PASSENGERS PER TRIP THE LRT PROJECT WOULD BE DECLARED OPEN FOR THE PUBLIC BY 2025 THE ENTIRE INVESTMENT OF THE PROJECT IS USD 2.2 BILLION Lig
The Borehole testing of the Malabe-colombo Light Rail (CLR) project began under the first phase of its constructions this week. The Borehole testing is being carried out at places where pillars are scheduled to be constructed. Accordingly, 200 places would be tested by five institutions which excel in expertise.
The Megapolis and Western Development Ministry which is implementing the CLR project said the constructions are being carried out without causing any inconvenience to the day-today life of the people.
A new 16-kilometre railway line would be constructed from Malabe to Colombo on pillars. The pillars would be constructed on the middle of the existing roads. Between the two destinations, 16 railway interchanges are to be built. A railway maintenance and a service centre to be constructed near the Chandrika Kumaratunga Mawatha in Malabe.
A Japan-made luxury light train would be selected to operate on the railway track providing a secure and a comfortable transport service to the public. The ministry said the LRT project would be declared open for the public by 2025.
The railway line is 8.4 metres in width and 25 power-sets with four
compartments each to be used to transport 800 passengers per trip.
Upon completion of the project, the time to travel between Colombo Fort Railway Station and Malabe IT Park Railway Station would be cut down to 32 minutes.
During peak hours, a train will reach a station every three minutes. During nonpeak hours, a limited-stop train would be
The CLR project is expected to encourage citizens to use public transport instead of their own vehicles and thereby minimize emission of carbon by reducing traffic congestion
introduced which will reach Colombo from Malabe in 28 minutes.
The Ministry said the project would be upto international standards with special facilities being provided to the women, children and the differently-abled persons.
The entire investment of the project is USD 2.2 billion and USD 1.85 billion out of the investment would be provided by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) as a concessionary loan. The loan will have an interest rate of 0.1% for civil work and equipment while it will be 0.01% for consultation services. A time period of 40 years has been granted to repay the loan with a 12-year concessionary period.
“The CLR project is expected to encourage citizens to use public transport instead of their own vehicles and thereby minimize emission of carbon by reducing traffic congestion. According to the estimations, the project will reduce carbon emission by 53,929 tons per year. Not only the project is environment-friendly, it will also reduce road accidents,” the ministry said.