A large number of rural road network development projects have been launched countrywide to cater to the transport needs of the rural economic sector, by the Highways and Road Development and Petroleum Resources Development Ministry, on the direction of Minister Kabir Hashim.
Termed ‘Run Mawath Road Development project’, it is being implemented countrywide covering all districts and electorates, the Ministry said in a statement recently.
This includes the development of dilapidated roads, culverts and bridges in rural areas which had not seen development or renovation for the past several decades, the statement added.
Development work on several rural roads and bridges in the Deraniyagala electorate in the Kegalle district under the ‘Run Mawath project’ was launched under the patronage of Minister Kabir Hashim recently, the statement said.
Under this project, all types of bridges, including iron, plank and other types of bridges would be replaced with new bridges. The project in Deraniyagala also includes the construction of new bridges to replace five iron bridges in Urupelewwa, Kahanawita, Dickella, Miyanakoletenna and Delaoluwa on the Deraniyagala–Dehiowita road.
The newly built Panathura and Anhettigama bridges were also opened by the Minister, who also inaugurated the carpeting of the Arupeellagama road and the Deraniyagala bus stand. Over Rs. 1,000 million has been set aside by the Ministry for the road development project.
Concurrent to this program, the Ministry has launched a program to develop ‘A’ and ‘B’ grade roads in the country under an ADB aid program, the statement added.