Deputy Minister of Transport Prasanna Gunasena told reporters yesterday (10) that all necessary steps will be taken to resume train services to Kandy within a year.
The railway line from Rambukkana to Peradeniya has been the most damaged by the Ditwa disaster and it is estimated that about 74 million US dollars will be spent on repairs, he said.
It is estimated that about 35 million US dollars will be spent on repairs to the Gampola-Nawalapitiya section, and then the section from Nawalapitiya to Nanu Oya will also need to be renovated, he said.
Although the government has sufficient funds for these activities, he said that providing manpower and machinery has been a challenge.
“The renovation of the Peradeniya Bridge, commonly known as the Yaka Bridge, alone will cost about US$18 million. Therefore, it will be a huge cost to renovate this road. However, we are doing our best to operate the train to Kandy within at least a year,” he said.