Cabinet approves Light Rail Transit Project from Colombo Fort to Malabe

July 11, 2018 (LBO) – Cabinet nod has been received to implement an elevated Light Rail Transit (LRT) line from Multi-Modal Transport Centre in Colombo Fort to Malabe. According to the proposal presented by Megapolis Minister Champika Ranawaka, 17 km long, two light railways will be built under the Japanese funded project.

Malabe to Fort is a high priority transport corridor which connects the administrative capital to the business district in metro Colombo. This corridor carries the largest number of vehicles and has the lowest speed compared to all other corridors. It is also the one major corridor currently not served by a rail-based public transport mode.

The monorail study found this route economically viable if some of the private vehicle users would shift to public transport during the rush hours.

As evidenced by dynamic cities around the world, improvement and increased use of public transport systems is the effective and sustainable solution to urban traffic congestion.