Developing Kelani Valley Railway line

Unauthorized constructions along the Kelani Valley Railway line is the main obstacle for delay of developing the Railway line, Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said.

While attending an inspection tour on the Kelani Valley Railway line on Saturday, Minister said there were several bends on the Kelani Valley Railway line and those could not straighten without removing the unauthorized constructions.

“We have to think about the future of the residents living along the railway line. At the moment the Transport ministry together with the Megapolis ministry working on a mega project to resettle them by constructing alternative houses,” he said.

Arrangements have been made by the government to develop the Railway line and the Railway stations with more facilities even after 10 years and the Asian Development Bank had also agreed to provide assistance to the development process,” he said.

“We hope to develop the single railway line into a double railway line. However, we can’t develop it until the removal of unauthorised constructions along the railway track. When the constructions are completed it would reduced the traffic congestion of the Colombo Avissawella Main Road” Minister said.

About 10 train services are being operated daily from Colombo to Awissawella and then to Colombo which was a benefit for more than 15,000 commuters, Minister said.