SEVERAL PLANS BY MEGAPOLIS MINISTRY TO DEVELOP COLOMBO AND ITS SUBURBS
Anumber of memos presented to the cabinet by Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka under the Megapolis Structural Plan were given cabinet approval on Tuesday.
One of them was to obtain land for Aero-city Development Project to create a reserved area for value added industry and small and medium scale enterprises.
A Separate area for commercial and recreational activities, a Media City and Middle class houses and common amenities will also be established under the project.
These projects are to be Established under Public – Private Partnership (PPP) and the proposal to acquire a land area of about 80 acres owned by the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) to UDA for the above purpose, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
Area around 18th mile post of Colombo – Negombo road is to be developed with combined bus stand, improvement of Railway Station, Taxi Park, Tourist Car park, Bank These projects are to be Established under Public – Private Partnership (PPP) and the proposal to acquire a land area of about 80 acres owned by the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) to UDA for the above purpose, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers Services, Film hall, restaurant and shopping complex.
The Megapolis and Western Development Ministry has drawn up a five year plan to develop Colombo and other major cities in the country giving priority to control traffic congestion, proper solid waste disposal, providing decent housing to all slum dwellers and upgrading the livelihood of the poor with steady and enhanced per capita income.
“If we can address those issues properly and in a scientific way, 90% of the problems faced by urban population would have been solved and thereby achieve a speedier development. The problems are further aggravated as almost local government authorities in metropolis, mega cities and towns not only in Sri Lanka but in other parts of the world are trying to find solutions to those three main problems. We must find solutions to these issues sooner than later as the problems are getting aggravated by day,” he stressed.
Minister Ranawaka said it was the middle class is the most affected by traffic congestions and therefore it is the responsibility of any government to provide a decent, efficient and time saving public transport system to the people.
“Our attention has been drawn to a number of solutions to prevent traffic congestions in our cities and in Colombo in particular as the traffic congestion affects the economy and day to day lives of the people. But the main remedy to traffic is road discipline as motorists and road users need to have patience and discipline when they are on the road,” he emphasized.