The work to extend the Marine Drive at both ends is to resume soon and is scheduled to be completed this year, the Road Development Authority (RDA) said. The project came to a halt in mid last year as authorities could not acquire land needed for the road extension. Project Director, K.Selvanathan said acquisition notices have been issued to residents living along the marine drive between Frazer Avenue and Vasala Road, “They will receive compensation after the land is evaluated by the Evaluation Department,” he said.
Selvanathan said although they were issued notices to evacuate, a deadline was yet to be set. “Once the land is cleared, construction will resume and is expected to be completed within six months,” he said.
Selvanathan said, “ The Marine Drive is to be extended from Kollupitiya junction to Renuka Hotel for a length of about 650 metres. The boundaries have been demarcated. The initiation of the physical implementation of the project is delayed due to various acquisition issues. The stretch to be extended includes lands of various embassies, hotels and private properties which increases various complications in acquisition. The Evaluation Department is working on the land acquisition.”
The Project Director said that further extension from Renuka Hotel has not been finalized. It is expected that extension would be incorporated through various projects, such as building flyovers under the Urban Development Authority. He added that the Marine Drive had been extended form Kollupitiya junction upto Ramakrishna Avenue through three stages earlier. The fourth stage includes extension from Ramakrishna Avenue to the Dehiwala Railway station which commenced last year. “The extension is completed from Ramakrishna Avenue to Frazer Avenue. The extension has attained a snail’s phase due to various complications in land acquisition from Frazer Avenue to Vasala Road,” the Project Director said.
Source : Daily mirror (06/02/2014)
