11 new offices to carry out Western Megapolis Development

Cabinet yesterday granted approval to establish separate project offices to implement projects formulated under the Megapolis initiative until the Western Region Megapolis Authority was formally established. 

The proposal made by Megapolis and Western Development Minister Champika Ranawaka to establish 11 project offices was approved by the Government. Accordingly, the Ministry will set up offices for the Western Region Aero City Development Project, Western Region Port City Development Project, Western Region Plantation City Development Project, Western Region Tourism City Development Project, Western Region Tech City Development Project, Western Region Administrative City Development Project, Western Region Green City Development Project, Western Region Transport Development Project, Western Region Waste Management Development Project, Western Region Integrated Community Development and Lands and Business Development projects. 

The Western Region Megapolis Planning Project (WMPP), which was set up to update the master plan prepared in 2004 together with Board of Investment (BOI), is to be wound up with the establishment of the project offices. To follow through any work remaining from the WMPP, a new project office called the Western Region Planning Project is to be established. 

The existing staff and assets are to be reallocated to the project offices while 723 new recruitments have already been approved by the Department of Management Services, including for project directors, management assistants and drivers. 

The position of the senior project coordinator is to be filled by the current Urban Development Authority Chairman.