New railway bridge over Mahaweli River approved

Daily Mirror, EconomyNext, Newswire, Ada Derana (தமிழ்), Hiru News (සිංහල), Ada Derana, Ada Derana (සිංහල) and Hiru News (தமிழ்) report that the Cabinet approved a new rail crossing over the Mahaweli River, between Sarasavi Uyana and Peradeniya. Daily Mirror, EconomyNext and Newswire place the project on the Matale railway line. EconomyNext and Newswire say the proposal came from the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development; EconomyNext identifies the minister as Nalinda Jayatissa.

EconomyNext and Newswire report that the bridge is one part of a broader suburban railway programme for Kandy, and that a feasibility study is in progress. Daily Mirror describes the area as Kandy’s metropolitan region, EconomyNext as the municipal area and Newswire as Greater Kandy. EconomyNext and Newswire say the proposed upgrades include adding a second track from Kadugannawa to Gampola through Peradeniya, and on the Matale route between Peradeniya and Katugastota.

EconomyNext and Newswire report that Indian funding is expected to support the bridge project. Newswire specifies that the money would come through an Indian Line of Credit for railway facilities affected by Cyclone Ditwah. EconomyNext and Newswire say the wider upgrades are intended to ease constraints on single-track routes and improve service reliability and network links; both say the new bridge would connect the Matale line more effectively to the national railway system.

EconomyNext reports that Jayatissa said work to restore the older Black Bridge, also called Kalu Paalama, would continue at the same time as construction of the new crossing. EconomyNext says the existing single-track bridge was built in 1865 and was significantly damaged by Cyclone Ditwah. EconomyNext reports that the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau is undertaking repairs with technical support from the University of Peradeniya.