The second phase of the Outer Circular Highway which connects the Southern Expressway at Kottawa which was started by the former government from Kaduwela to Kadawatha, spanning a distance of 8.9 kilometres will be completed and opened to the public in May, Deputy Minister of Highways and Investment Promotion Eran Wickremaratne told www.adaderanabiz.lk

The government did not have any issues with the construction of this highway but only had some problems with the cost estimates for its construction, he added.

While the second phase of this highway would be opened by end May, construction work would also begin on the third phase which is the 9.32 kilometre stretch from Kadawatha to Kerawalapitiya by mid March, said Deputy Minister Wickremaratne.

The government had earlier stated that the estimated costs for the approved civil contracts for the third phase is Rs. 66.6 billion, 95 per cent of this cost would be met with a loan from the Export Import Bank of China.

The land acquisition for this project is now nearing completion while Rs. 1.1 billion is reportedly to be paid as compensation.

The government also stated that the construction work would begin after the recommendations of the review committee appointed to evaluate the technical and financial aspects of this project.

The loan agreement for this project was signed in Colombo during the earlier regime by former Treasury Secretary P.B. Jayasundera and Export Import Bank of China’s Chairman Li Ruogu.

Once the third phase of this highway is completed, those using the Southern Expressway could continue directly to Katunayake. The total distance of the Outer Circular Highway is 29.1 kilometres.