In a recent development, it has been uncovered that the lighting system of the esteemed ‘Golden Gate Kalyani’ bridge, which was inaugurated in 2021, is currently non-functional. This unfortunate circumstance arises from the discovery of numerous instances of tampering and theft of electric cables.
During a press briefing held in Colombo on 14 July, the Director General of the Road Development Authority (RDA) shed light on the matter, revealing that the repercussions have incurred a staggering loss of approximately Rs. 270 million.
The Director General expressed deep concerns regarding similar incidents of theft that have also been reported on the Katunayake, Central, and Southern highways. Consequently, he appealed to the general public to promptly inform the police through the hotline number 1969 if they witness or have any information regarding such thefts.
The ‘Golden Gate Kalyani’ bridge, constructed at a cost of Rs. 50 billion, was ceremoniously opened to the public on 21 November 2021. The current state of the lighting system’s inoperability underscores the need for immediate action to rectify the issue and prevent further losses.