Travel between Colombo and Jaffna to become more comfortable

• Around 130 km of railway track from Maho to Omanthai to be upgraded under Indian concessional financing
• Upgrade of this track happening for first time in hundred years

A contract agreement for around $ 91.26 million for upgrading of railway tracks from Maho to Omanthai, under Indian concessional financing, was signed between IRCON International Limited and Government of Sri Lanka in Colombo on 18 July. The contract agreement was signed by IRCON International Limited Chairman & Managing Director Sunil Kumar Choudhury, and Transport and Civil Aviation Ministry Secretary L.P. Jayampathy, in the presence of Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Arjuna Ranatunga. Sri Lanka Railways General Manager M.J. D. Fernando, IRCON International Limited ED S. L. Gupta, and High Commission of India Economic & Commercial Wing Head Suja K. Menon were also present.

The total length of the track that will be upgraded under Indian concessional financing between Maho to Omanthai would be around 130 km. This includes 12 crossing stations, 7 halt stations and 78 level crossings. This is the first time the track is being upgraded in 100 years. This project would double the speed potential of railway track from the current around 60 km to 120 km per hour, as well as reduce the maintenance costs. It will also improve the travel comfort of passengers, and further contribute to the modernisation of Sri Lanka Railways.

India has so far committed Lines of Credit worth around $ 1.3 billion for development of the railway sector in Sri Lanka. The restoration of arterial railway lines, connecting the North and the South after decades of conflict, was undertaken under Indian concessional financing. The tsunami-affected Southern Railway line was also upgraded under an Indian Line of Credit. India has so far upgraded around 300 km of railway track and provided modern signalling & telecommunication systems for around 330 km of railway track in Sri Lanka.

In June 2017, India signed a fresh Line of Credit Agreement for $ 318 million for the development of railway sector in Sri Lanka. Under this Line of Credit, other projects that are underway include procurement of 160 passenger coaches; upgrading of signal & telecommunication system from Maho to Anuradhapura; and setting up of a Railway Workshop in Ratmalana etc. Procurements of rolling stock from India are also underway including 6 DMUs, 10 locomotives, 20 container carrier wagons, 30 fuel tank wagons, 160 passenger coaches, and 500 buses. India has also contributed substantially to capacity building of Sri Lankan railway personnel.

This project is in continuation of India’s efforts to partner with Sri Lanka in people-oriented connectivity projects in Sri Lanka.