$ 233 m Metro Colombo Urban Development Project underway

•  Fastest project implemented, with eight sub-projects awarded in six months

By Cheranka Mendis

Sub-projects of the US$ 233 million Metro Colombo Urban Development Project (MCUDP), jointly funded by the World Bank and Sri Lanka, are now underway – six months since the date of commencement.

Eight projects have so far been awarded, with others being listed out for consideration soon.

Known as the fastest project implementation in Sri Lanka, MCUDP complements the ongoing urban regeneration program of the Government and looks at reducing floods in the catchments of the Colombo Water Basin, as well as strengthening the capacity of local authorities in the Colombo metropolitan area, to rehabilitate, improve, and maintain local infrastructure and services through selected demonstration investments within a five year period.

US$ 213 million of the total cost is given on loan by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) of the World Bank, while US$ 10 million (plus tax) is funded by the Government.

With the cost of the 2010 floods – one of the worst cases of flooding seen in the recent past which affected the Colombo area – being estimated at US$ 50 million, the project focuses on three key factors: flood and drainage management, urban development, infrastructure rehabilitation and capacity building for Metro Colombo local authorities, and implementation support.

The costs estimated for the first two components are US$ 147.55 million and US$ 50.7 million respectively. The third, at an estimated US$ 10 million, will be borne by the Government.

As at now, three packages for model zone development in the town square have been awarded along with three other packages in walkability improvement and asphalt overlaying, MCUDP Project Director and Ministry of Defence and Urban Development Additional Secretary Rohan Seneviratne said.

A package to improve public convenience in seven selected locations to provide hygienic and convenient sanitation facilities for the general public, as well as drainage improvement in Aluth Mawatha, has also already been awarded.

“We are about to award packages for Galle Road area in about two months and will advertise for R.A. De Mel Mawatha (Duplication Road) within the next three weeks,” Seneviratne said, outlining the projects in the pipeline. “Machinery for land reclamation has been finalised and we are currently awaiting the World Bank confirmation to give the awards.”

Beira Lake embankment improvement is also among tenders being prepared for awarding in the near future.

“Hydraulic models for macro and micro drainage and updated and detailed design of flood structures will also be started soon,” World Bank Senior Urban Specialist Rosanna Nitti added.

While the Government’s direct contribution to the project is US$ 10 million, another US$ 50 million will be spent by the State through the Urban Development Authority to resettle some 1,500 families currently living in underserved settlements around Beira Lake and canal banks, Seneviratne said.

“The project will ease the possibilities of flooding within the Colombo area and will improve the traffic flow as well.”

He acknowledged that 10 km of road would be rehabilitated on Galle Road and R.A. De Mel Mawatha, 28 km in the Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte area, 17 km in the Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia area, and six km in Kollonnawa.

“The Colombo metropolitan region produces almost 50% per cent of GDP and 80% per cent of industrial value added in production. Sri Lanka needs to tap the competitive advantages of the Colombo Metropolitan Region (CMR) to spearhead and accelerate growth,” Nitti said.

Under flood and drainage management, MCUDP will look at improving primary and secondary canals and creation of lakes, improving the micro-drainage system within Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), capacity enhancement for flood and drainage management, and improving the east and southwest of the Beira Lake through the development of a continuous promenade (linear park) and green areas (nodal parks) along its shores, and establishing a biodiversity park at Beddagana.

Under urban development, infrastructure rehabilitation and capacity building of metro Colombo local and central authorities, the projects will concentrate on supporting local authorities to rehabilitate and manage their streets and drainage infrastructure, implement selected demonstration urban improvement investments, provide equipment for operation and maintenance, and strengthen and build capacity of local authorities.

In implementation support, the project looks at environmental and social safeguards, procurement and financial management, monitoring and evaluation, and supporting project implanting agencies and project local authorities.