Work on Veyangoda new flyover begins

Heavy traffic jams at Veyangoda which have been causing severe inconvenience to the people of Veyangoda will come to an end within the next 12 months said Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa on Sunday (23).

A flyover is to be constructed to overcome the daily eight-hour delay caused to road transport by movements of trains along the town’s level crossing. The minister was addressing a meeting held in connection with the commencement of the work on the flyover which will be constructed at minimum damage to public property. He said this flyover will be the newest addition to the network of roads, bridges and flyovers being built throughout the country in accordance with the Mahinda Chintana Vision.   

Minister Rajapaksa expressed confidence that the flyover and the approach to the Northern Expressway would lead to a rapid development to the Veyangoda town.

The Ports and Highways Ministry has undertaken the construction of the flyover at a cost of Rs. 2000 million. The flyover which is 315 meters long and 10.4 meters wide is the fourth to be built in the Gampaha District after the flyovers at Kelaniya, Ragama and Gampaha. The delay caused to road transport daily between eight and 10 hours due to trains passing the Veyangoda town 96 times a day will come to an end after the flyover is built.

Minister Rajapaksa said the day the work began is undoubtedly a day of joy to the people of Veyangoda which became well known in the country because of the late Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike. In the past it was the Veyangoda Textile Mills and food storage facility which drew public attention. Today the road passing through the town is used as a main highway by the people of Sabaragamuwa and Kandy and by those travelling to the International Airport, Katunayake.

The Minister attributed the construction of the flyover as a keen interest President Mahinda Rajapaksa had taken in the project since his desire is to do special service to Attanagalla.

After Gampaha town is Veyangoda from where the main highway to the North begins. Hence this flyover is of special importance and has to be completed within a year according to the minister.

 Among the others who addressed the meeting were Petroleum Industries Deputy Minister Sarana Gunawardana and Ports and Highways Ministry Secretary Ranjith Premasiri. Others who attended the ceremony included Ports and Highways Deputy Minister Nirmala Kotakawala, Housing and Construction Deputy Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Western Province Minister Nimal Lansa, Gampaha District Secretary P.P. Ratnasiri and Western Province Council member  Sandhya Siriwardene.