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Station Masters seek Mahawa-Omanthai project redesign

30 Aug 2021

  • Agreement already signed with Indian company: Railways GM
 By Buddhika Samaraweera Sri Lanka Station Masters’ Union (SLSMU) has requested from the Railways Department that a study be carried out into the proposed project to modernise the railway line between the Mahawa and Omanthai Railway Stations, and called for said project to be redesigned. Speaking to The Morning, SLSMU General Secretary Kasun Chamara said that plans are afoot to remove the railway line between the two aforementioned stations and construct a new one under this project. However, if the project can be redesigned in a way that enables it to keep the existing line and build a new one, thereby making it a double railway line, it will result in many benefits, he added. “According to the current plan, the existing railway line will be removed and a new railway line will be built under this project, but the implementation of the project in that manner will result in the suspension of train services on that line for several months. Considering the matter, what we suggest is to develop this as a double railway line which will bring many benefits to the passengers, as well as the Railways Department,” he explained. Elaborating on the advantages of the SLSMU’s proposal, Chamara noted that the conversion of the railway line into a double line could prevent train delays in the event of derailments. Claiming that most of the lands in the vicinity of the relevant railway line belong to the Railways Department, he said that there would therefore be no problem in acquiring lands required for its development as a double line. Moreover, he noted, the project’s implemented as currently planned would not implement the modernisation of railway stations, emphasising however that it is imperative that railway stations be developed during the modernisation of the said railway line. “After the modernisation of the railway line, the railway platforms and stations should also be developed. But as per the current plan of this project, that will not take place,” he alleged. When contacted by The Morning to inquire about this, the Railways General Manager (GM) Dhammika Jayasundara said that it is not possible to make changes to the project, as the relevant agreement has already been signed with an Indian company. However, he said that it is hoped to get the views and suggestions of all parties in the Railways Department in planning such projects in the future. “When entering into an agreement with a company for a particular project, the relevant clauses are mentioned in it. There is no possibility of changing those clauses after it is signed. Therefore, it is not possible to change this project. But in the future, we hope to get everyone’s views and suggestions on such matters,” he stated.  


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