President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has instructed authorities to immediately commence construction work to extend the Marine Drive from the Colpetty railway station to Colombo -Fort.

Minister of Highways Johnston Fernando said the fifth phase of the Marine Drive road development project which is a one kilometer road from the Colpetty railway station to the Rathmuthu Hotel will commence from 01 January, 2021.

The Minister who was engaged in an inspection tour today with regard to the project said it will be completed with the construction of an underground passage or flyover above the railway cross road.

Stating that the construction of the 300 meter road from the Colpetty railway station to the US Embassy in Colombo was halted due to security reasons, Minister Fernando said the issue was resolved following discussions with Embassy officials today.

Construction work on this stretch of the road will commence after 10 January, 2021, while the project manager has been instructed to complete construction work on both roads by 110 days.

Minister of Highways Johnston Fernando further said they expect to extend the Marine Drive from Dehiwala to Panadura in the future.
He said steps are being taken to commence construction work in this regard in order to promptly ease the traffic congestion reported in Colombo on a daily basis.