The Indian based Rites Group has just completed an initial assessment of the local rail network, on the potential of upgrading the existing track.
The team is to submit its findings on upgrading track speeds to 100 km per hour and putting in a double track parallel to the existing, in two weeks, General Manager of the Sri Lanka Railways, Priyal De Silva said.
The Rites Group is an Indian Government company, involved in transport, infrastructure and related technologies, with 35 ongoing projects in 13 countries.
The Sri Lankan Railway estimates an upgrade will cost to the tune of Rs. 1.4 bn just to improve speeds on the rail track that are currently a slow 35 to 40 km an hour.
“We have also had the Austrian Federal Railway and the China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation here to do a preliminary assessment,” De Silva said.
“They will also come back to us with their findings and selection will depend on estimates that all put forward and how much funding assistance.
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