Restoration of the upcountry railway tracks, including some 25 locations severely damaged by Cyclone Ditwah, could be completed by year-end, and the cost may surpass US$300 million, the Superintendent Engineer (Upper), Danushka Dissanayake, said. Operations of the upcountry rail line had been disrupted since November 29 last year. The upcountry and Matale railway lines suffered [...]
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Restoration of the upcountry railway tracks, including some 25 locations severely damaged by Cyclone Ditwah, could be completed by year-end, and the cost may surpass US$300 million, the Superintendent Engineer (Upper), Danushka Dissanayake, said.
Operations of the upcountry rail line had been disrupted since November 29 last year.
The upcountry and Matale railway lines suffered significant damage. Some areas beneath tracks had been completely washed away.
Mr Dissanayake said all the severely collapsed areas, including locations where it was difficult to find solutions, are being restored. Technical advice has been used.
He said construction of the severely damaged Yaka Bridge in Peradeniya is continuing.
The engineer said there were 15 seriously damaged and collapsed locations from Peradeniya to Badulla alone, while a total of 198 locations, including those on the Matale railway line, had been identified.
Mr Dissanayake said a train had been run up to Kadigamuwa on a test and that passenger train operations are only up to Rambukkana so far.
He said there are eight severely damaged areas between Gampaha and Nawalapitiya, and seven teams are working.
To complete the task, the Railway Department has joined hands with the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau, Central Engineering Services Limited, and the National Building Research Institute.
Mr Dissanayake said the damage to the upcountry railway is significant and that all efforts are being made to complete restoration by the end of December.
Pix and text by Rekha Tharangani Fonseka
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