http://www.nationalsecurity.lk/fullnews.php?id=27179


Northern rail lines: Construction begins
13 Oct 2010 - 09:15
Irangika RANGE
The Government will commence construction work on the railway lines in the Northern sector connecting Medawachchiya to Thalaimannar and Omanthai to Pallai this month.
Sri Lanka Railways General Manager A G Mahanama said the foundation stone will be laid by Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa in the presence of Transport Minister Kumara Welgama and Indian Foreign Minister S M Krishna on October 29. He said the contracts for the Medawachchiya-Thalaimannar and Omanthai-Pallai segments of the railway track have been signed. The leading Indian Railway Construction Company, IRCON has undertaken reconstruction of these two lines. The new signalling and tele-communication network system will also be established on the Northern railway line under this project. He said the restoration work of the two railway lines are expected to be finished by the project's due date.
Mahanama said trains on the Northern railway line operated only up to Thandikulam. "We have already laid the track up to Omanthai and the Omanthai railway station is being rebuilt," he said. The Omanthai station will be open at the end of this year. Concessionary credit facilities amounting to about US$ 800 million have been offered by India for the railway projects in Sri Lanka expecting speedy reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts in the Northern region.
The 159 kilometre Northern rail track consists of 85 bridges, 16 stations and 12 sub stations. All of which needed to be rebuilt. Many State and private institutions have come forward to assist the construction of railway stations in the North. Courtesy:dailynews.lk