By: Staff Writer
May 21, Colombo (LNW): The construction of a flyover above the railway track near Justice Akbar Mawatha in Kompanna Veediya, launched in 2020, has faced major delays, forcing the government to pay more than Rs. 400 million in delay charges to the contractor.
Originally scheduled for completion by June 2022, the project deadline was later extended to September 2024 due to complications with relocating local residents, according to sources from the Road Development Authority (RDA).
In August 2020, the Cabinet approved the construction of two flyovers near the Kompanna Veediya railway station in Colombo at an estimated cost of Rs. 6 billion.
The project includes the design and construction of two main flyovers and a connecting section between them. These flyovers are positioned over the railway lines along Sri Uttarananda Mawatha and Justice Akbar Mawatha.
One of the flyovers, linking Kompanna Veediya with Justice Akbar Mawatha and Uttarankanda Mawatha, was inaugurated by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe on April 8 last year.
The area in question is known for intense traffic congestion, worsened by the railway crossing which disrupts movement in this busy commercial district.
The region houses government offices, hospitals, religious sites, restaurants, and entertainment venues, contributing to its high traffic volume.
To ease congestion, the RDA assigned Maga Engineering to carry out the construction work. However, due to prolonged delays, the government has been incurring Rs. 500,000 in daily penalty payments. During a site visit on Monday the 28th,
Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake confirmed the accumulated delay charges and expressed optimism that the underlying issues would be resolved soon.
A major obstacle to progress has been the flyover along Boy Scouts Lane, which cuts through an area containing police quarters. The demolition of six buildings was necessary, resulting in an estimated two-year delay in that section of the project.
Despite setbacks, the new flyovers are anticipated to greatly improve long-term traffic flow. They aim to mitigate the severe congestion that results from frequent closures at the railway crossings, especially during peak travel hours.
Once completed, the infrastructure will significantly enhance accessibility and connectivity within the Kompanna Veediya area, alleviating the burden on both commuters and local institutions.
