Road to be widened at Kochchikade

Rural Roads and Other Infrastructure State Minister Nimal Lanza chaired a meeting on Friday to find means to put an end to traffic congestion in and around Kochchikade on the Colombo-Puttalam main road. Officials were given instructions to widen a 5.6 km stretch between Dalupotha junction to Thoppuwa bridge to a four-lane road.

The Ministry said that as its first stage, the development of 820 meters of the road in the Kochchikade city limits with four lanes would be expedited.

After business community representatives pointed out that business activities in the Kochchikade town may decline as a result of vehicles traveling on the Peliyagoda-Puttalam (A003) road to Anuradhapura, Puttalam and Jaffna tend to use alternative routes to bypass the Kochchikade town due to the congestion, State Minister Lanza said that the project would be implemented to save people’s time, money and reduce pollution.

Minister Lanza instructed officials of the Road Development Authority to take steps to minimise the damage to the business community during the implementation of this project.

The business association also said they would provide maximum support for the road widening project.

State Minister Arundika Fernando, Secretary to the Ministry of Highways R.W.R. Pemasiri, Chaminda Athaluwage, Chairman, Road Development Authority, Sardha Weerakoon, Director General of RDA and local government officials were present at the discussion.