USD 350 Mn. Mattala airport caters to only 50 passengers a day – UNP

With that amount rail tracks could have been built for the benefit of 40,000 commuters a day

by Zacki Jabbar-August 12, 2014

The government had spent USD 350 million on the first stage of the Mattala International Airport(MIA) which serviced fewer than 50 passengers a day, but it had failed to raise the same amount of funds needed for laying an additional railway line  for the benefit of around 40,000 commuters on the costal and main lines during peak hours, the UNP charged yesterday.

Parliamentarian R. Yogarajan,  who was part of a five-member team of UNP MPs who visited the Panadura Railway station yesterday to assess the difficulties faced by  passengers told The Island that according to the Additional GMR Amitha Donawela and other senior Railway Department officials whom they had met at the end of their fact finding mission, a third line was required to service around 40,000 commuters during peak hours on both the coastal and  main lines from Colombo to Kalutara and beyond and Colombo to Gampaha and beyond.

The UNP team comprised MPs Ajith P. Perera, Eran Wickrememeratne, Harsha de Silva, Ajith Manapperuma and R. Yogarajan.

According to the officials a third track would cost around USD 350 million, Yogarajan said asking why the Rajapaksa government could not find the funds to provide a proper transport service, But, it no qualms in getting into debt to construct prestige projects as opposed to people friendly projects, the UNP MP said.

"Ajith Perera, Eran and I travelled in the Class III compartment of one train, while Harsha and Ajith Manapperuma boarded another, since all of us were unable to get into the same train due to congestion that it was difficult to find even standing space. I had to travel on the footboard for about two kilometres before managing to move in with the greatest difficulty. I also observed the saree of a female passenger who was standing on the footboard coming off and a male passenger next holding on to the falling saree and helping tuck it into her skirt. This is the plight of those who travel in our congested trains during peak hours."

Yogarajan said that they had also observed that the toilets at the Panadura Railway Station had no ventilation, no lights and was in a filthy condition, making it impossible to be used.

The officials had, he noted, explained that they were unable to even increase the number of compartments in the trains as a short term measure due to an acute shortage of funds.

The General Manager of Railways was expected to meet them but on reaching the Ministry premises they were informed that he had fallen from the steps yesterday and had been admitted to hospital, Yogarajan said. "The officials were clueless of our visit. But, a group of casual employees were standing outside and hooting and shouting slogans against us. We gathered that those taking part in the demonstration had been told that unless they protested, they would not be confirmed in service."