The Sri Lanka Railway Station Masters’ Association says certain issues in the USD 1.5 billion Mahawa-Omanthai railway modernisation project through Indian loan assistance are leading to wastage.
Under the first phase, the train service from Anuradhapura to Omanthai will be temporarily suspended for upgrades from the 1st of March.
The Association said the renovations have been suspended for a long time period and passengers would not have been inconvenienced had the renovations been carried out during the non-operational period of trains during the pandemic.
General Secretary of the Association Kasun Chamara told NewsRadio the President has already been informed in writing in this regard.
He said requests were made from the President, Sri Lanka Railways, the subject Minister, and the Transport Ministry to renovate the track but to no avail.
He said steps can be taken to make use of this railway line as a dual line which would be handy especially in the event of a derailment.
Through this, he said the existing railway line will continue while a new railway line will be constructed.
Chamara also stated that bare land in the North and East could be used for the project and will not require land acquisition.
However, he charged that despite there being sufficient land area a dual-track is not being created due to schemes by authorities.
