Rs. 7.2 b Bibile-Chenkaladi Road declared open for public 

The Bibile-Chenkaladi Road, stretching over 86.7 km on the A5 Road, was vested with the public yesterday under the patronage of Highways Minister Johnston Fernando.

The road was built at a cost of Rs. 7.2 billion and was funded by the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD). It was initiated to improve connectivity among Eastern, Uva and Central Provinces. 

This stretch of road is part of the Badulla-Chenkaladi Road Improvement Project (BCRIP). The BCRIP project will rehabilitate 151.3 km of the A-5 Peradeniya-Badulla-Chenkaladi Road, and is expected to improve road safety, facilitate access to markets, social services, and job opportunities.

The stretch of road from Bibile to Chenkaladi was developed by two local construction companies, under three phases; 29 km from Bibile to Padiyatalawa, 30 km from Padiyatalawa to Tampitiya and 27.7 km from Tampitiya to Chenkaladi.

The feasibility study for this project was conducted in 2014.

A sum of Rs. 12.4 million had been paid as compensation for the loss of lands of people in Bibile, Rideemalaiyadda, Padiyatalawa and Mahaoya divisional secretariat areas because of the project.

Saudi Fund for Development CEO Sultan bin Abdul Rahim Al-Marshad, State Minister of Backward Rural Areas Development and Promotion of Domestic Animal Husbandry and Minor Economic Crop Cultivation S. Viyalendran, Highways Ministry Secretary R.W.R. Pemasiri and many others also attend the event.