Tuesday Nov 26, 2024
Tuesday Nov 26, 2024
Friday, 1 March 2013 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Road Development Authority (RDA) has commissioned the rehabilitation and upgrading of Bibile – Pitakumbura – Namaloya- Inginiyagala (B527) roadway with a total length of 60.31 km as a part of the 7th Deyata Kirula programme 2013.
The Bank of Ceylon stepped in to fund the project, valued at Rs. 4605 million, for which the parties entered into a loan agreement. Tudawe Brothers (Pvt) Ltd was granted the proud honour of designing and constructing this roadway.
This is the second largest project undertaken by a Local Contractor without the participation of a foreign joint venture collaborator. The Road starts at Bibile town on the Badulla- Chenkaladi road (A-005) and ends at the Ampara-Inginiyagala road.
The RDA and Tudawe Brothers Ltd entered into a formal agreement sealing the Award of Contract in December 2012.
The ‘ground-breaking’ ceremonies took place at entry points to the road at both ends on 14th February 2013. At the Bibile junction end Hon. Nirmala Kothalawala (MP) Project Minister of Ports and Highways presided over the ceremony on the invitation of Gamini Vijith Wijayamuni Zoysa (MP) Minister of Wild Life Resources Conservation, while at the Inginiyagala junction end Nirmala Kothalawala (MP) Project Minister Ports and Highways completed the ceremony on the invitation of Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera (MP for Ampara District).
This is a strategic link between the Ampara city and Bibile in the Uva Province. The road was considered the safest route during the recent war to reach Ampara, due to the security risk while travelling along the other roads in the Eastern Province.
This Road traverses through the Famous Nilgala forest and Galoya National Park. Paddy cultivation and agricultural produce are the main income source of people in this area.
According to available data from Central Bank the highest population growth in Sri Lanka was in the Ampara District and Provincial GDP contribution increased from 1.9% in 2001 to 10.15% in 2005 in the Uva Province.
Therefore improvement of this Road is of national interest and it will bring both social and economic benefits to the area.
The main constraints in this road project are the narrowness of the existing roadway and the dangers faced in working in mountainous terrain between the 25th km to 27th km stretch. The proposed period of construction is three years. The completion of this project will result in a complete rehabilitation and upgrading of this road, bringing in several social and economic benefits to surrounding areas including easy accessibility.
Reduced travel times and vehicle operating costs will be a direct economic benefit. In addition, this project will help to improve the living standards of local residents by providing ease of travel whilst commuting to work or seeking access to other basic services.
