News Today: Transport Minister discusses the delay in flyover construction and its impact

Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake revealed today that the delay in constructing the flyover from Baladaksha Mawatha near the Slave Island Police Station to Chittampalam A. Gardiner Mawatha in Colombo has cost the country more than Rs. 400 million in delay charges. Rathnayake made this disclosure during an inspection tour to the site, where he assessed the reasons behind the construction delay.

According to the Minister, the daily delay charges amount to Rs. 500,000. He stressed that resolving the issues causing these delays is imperative to avoid further costs. One of the major setbacks in the project has been the relocation of police quarters located at the construction site. The construction work had been delayed by nearly two years due to the challenge of moving the families living in these quarters.

However, Rathnayake confirmed that the Acting IGP has agreed to facilitate the relocation of these families. Once the relocation process is completed, the flyover construction is expected to resume, and the project is projected to be finished by the end of this year. The Minister emphasized the urgency of resolving these issues to complete the flyover on schedule and avoid any more financial losses.