• Tuesday, March 19, 2024

News

PM instructs to expedite work on 10 Colombo Port City bridges

By: AswathyNair

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed to expedite the construction of 10 bridges in the Colombo Port City. Accordingly, all construction work is expected to be completed within the next year, the Ministry of Urban Development and Water Supply and Housing Facilities said.

The construction of the Colombo Port City has been disrupted in recent years and the Minister of Urban Development, Water Supply and Housing, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has advised in December 2019 to expedite the construction work of the Colombo Port City, the Ministry said in a statement.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa also intervened to reclaim 269 hectares of land in the Colombo Port City and hand over its ownership to the Urban Development Authority (UDA).

Accordingly, Colombo Port City will be constructed in several phases and the construction of bridges is being carried out expeditiously.

The 10 bridges are constructed through the sea canal passing through Colombo Port City.

The 80km long, 3km long stretch of sea canal passes through the port city of Colombo and adds to the beauty of the port city.

It is planned to use this canal for drainage and engineering purposes of the Colombo Port City,” the statement read.

Five bridges will be reserved for pedestrians while the remaining five will be reserved for motorists. These bridges are of various lengths from 80m to 130m and vary in width from 4m to 42m.

The bridges reserved for motor vehicles are being constructed of concrete while the bridges reserved for passengers are being made of iron.

It is also planned to deploy passenger vessels in the sea canal stretched through the Colombo Port City and arrange aquatic games while deploying light vessels for the games, according to the statement. It is also planned to use a number of other water sports features along the sea canal.

Passenger bridges are being designed to make pedestrians safer and more comfortable.

People who visit Galle Face will have no obstructions and a gateway is being constructed from Galle Face Green to the Colombo Port City. People visiting the Galle Face area can visit the beach and bathe in the water without any problems. An access road is also being constructed.

The general public can access the Colombo Port City at no charge.

While the Colombo Port City, Sri Lanka’s largest development project, will bring many benefits to the country, including economic benefits, investors in Asia and around the world have already drawn their attention of the Colombo Port City Development Project, the Ministry statement said.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed to implement the Colombo Port City Development Project properly and swiftly under the supervision of Secretary to the Ministry of Urban Development, Water Supply Dr. Priyath Bandu Wickrama. Work is underway.

Under the guidance and supervision of the Ministry of Urban Development, Water Supply and Drainage, the Port City of Colombo will be built while Port City Colombo Pvt / Ltd will be an investment company while China Harbor Company (CHEC) will be the contractor.

The Colombo Port City is being constructed under the supervision of the Ministry of Urban Development, Water Supply and Housing, Port City Colombo (Pvt) Ltd. is the investment company while China Harbor Company (CHEC) is the contractor.

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