Colombo road network needs three-fold increase by 2030- Patali

If Colombo City is to accommodate the growing number of vehicles on its roads, the road network would have to be increased by three folds by 2030, said Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka.

The minister was speakings during the opening ceremony of the second stage of the Maligawatte ‘Lakhiru Sevana’ high-rise housing project.

The high-rise housing project was declared open under the patronage of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and it was attended by MP A.H.M. Fawzie and MP Mujibur Rahuman.

The second stage of ‘Lakhiru Sevana’ constructed at a cost of Rs.1,536 million comprises 384 housing units. Each housing unit in this 11 storeyed housing project comprises of two bedrooms, sitting room, kitchen, balcony and toilet facilities. This housing project also includes elevators, community centres and other facilities for the convenience of its residents. Under the first phase, 192 houses had been vested with the public.

“There was a time when the lands of the poor were snatched from them and sold to the rich folk. Those who opposed it were abducted in white vans. However, the Colombo addresses are no longer those that belong to the underworld and we have made a commitment to avail the people from Maligawatte, Mattakkuliya and Kimbula-Ela addresses similar to those in Colombo 3 or 4. That is why we have named this project, ‘a house and a life’,Minister Ranawaka said.

Minister Ranawaka said not just constructing these high rise buildings, the CMC also has the responsibility of maintaining the drains while the Water Board has the responsibility of providing water and the Electricity Board should provide electricity and issue bills in a proper manner.

“If only all these state institutions work together,we will be able to uplift the people’s quality of life. There are also state employees among us such as the Railway employees. We have also commenced a housing project in Slave Island to provide them housing facilities. We will also commence another housing project in this area,” the minister said.

“The public transport should also be improved. Currently, 15% of the Colombo city consists of roads and if we are to accommodate the increased number of vehicles, these roads would have to be increased three fold by 2030.

The amount of roads cannot be increased to three times its current state to accommodate the growing number of vehicles. Therefore, the best solution would be to improve public transport. That is why we have embarked on a gigantic project such as the light rail project.

Within the next 10 years we need to improve public rail transport to accommodate at least 20% of the commuters,” Minister Ranawaka said.

Public transport need to be improved - Champika-Time:16:07

Camelia Nathaniel

If the Colombo City is to accommodate the growing number of vehicles on its roads, the road network would have to be increased by three folds by 2030, said Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka.
 
The minister said this during the opening of the second stage of the Maligawatte ‘Lakhiru Sevana’ high-rise housing project.
 
The high-rise housing project was declared open Under the patronage of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and it was attended by MP A.H.M. Fauzi and MP Mujibur Rahuman.
 
The second stage of ‘Lakhiru Sevana’ was constructed on an investment of Rs. 1,536 million and comprises384 housing units. These units on 11 floors comprises of two bedrooms, sitting, kitchen, balcony and toilet facilities. This housing project also includes elevators, community centres and other facilities for the convenience of its residents. Under the first phase, 192 houses had been vested with the public.