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Megapolis sets out $11.5 billion for transport plan for Sri Lanka

Nearly a third of Sri Lanka’s new US$11.5 billion transport master plan will be spent on road development in and around the capital Colombo. The plan, unveiled by the Western Region Megapolis Planning Project (WRMPP) – covers the next 20 years. Work will start on the first projects withinsix month, according to a report by the Daily Mirror newspaper. The other two-thirds will be spent on a light rail transit system, railway electrification, bus modernisation and inland waterways. The project is to
June 6, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
Nearly a third of Sri Lanka’s new US$11.5 billion transport master plan will be spent on road development in and around the capital Colombo.

The plan, unveiled by the Western Region Megapolis Planning Project (WRMPP) – covers the next 20 years. Work will start on the first projects withinsix month, according to a report by the Daily Mirror newspaper.

The other two-thirds will be spent on a light rail transit system, railway electrification, bus modernisation and inland waterways.

The project is to be funded via public-private partnerships but no contracts have be finalised as yet, according the newspaper.

The 3,600km2 plan is the brainchild of Sri Lanka's nine-month-old coalition government, led by president Maithripala Sirisena and prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

A report by the Nikkie Asia Review in March said that the Western Region Megapolis Planning Project comprises 150 small projects, including the $1.4 billion Chinese-funded Colombo Port City development. There will also be a trade hub for Colombo, a city of six million people. Other aspects are a high-rise central business district including at least 60 new towers and a science and technology city.

The Asia Review also quoted Brogan Ingstad, of the London-based economic analysts Oxford Business Group, warning that Sri Lanka needs to take great care to ensure value for money, given its economic situation including budget deficits. "Cost-benefit analysis of every dollar spent is important,” he said. "You want to ensure the projects count and that they reach completion."

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