Ircon, a railway construction public sector unit, will install signalling and telecommunication system in the Sri Lankan railway network.
The project, to be executed in the northern province of Sri Lanka at a cost of $86.51 million, is part of the $800-million credit India had extended at concessional terms. The credit has been extended at an interest rate of LIBOR plus 0.5 per cent with LIBOR capped at three per cent, to the country. The repayment period is 20 years with five year moratorium.
The proposed contract will cover the northern province of Sri Lankan, including section in Anuradhapura, Kankesanturai & Medawachchiya and Tallai Mannar, covering 313 km with 28 stations. Signalling work involves provision of centralised-control panel interlocking colour light signal with electrically operated points, and train detection system.
Level crossings will be interlocked with the proposed new signalling system, by which the safety of road at level crossings will be enhanced.
The telecommunication work involves provision of optical fiber communication system through-out the section. Apart from this, GPS-based station clock system and public address system will also be provided at major stations.
Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Ashok K Kantha said the work is already in progress on the Medawachchiya; Madhu Road, Madhu Road - Tallaimannar and Omanthai and Pallai Sections. He said the work on Kalutara and Galle Section is scheduled to commence from September and the will be completed by next March. The southern coastal railway line project is also being funded under the government of India credit line of $167.4 million.
