The Government has accelerated the construction on the first phase of the proposed Matara-Kataragama railway line from Matara to Beliatta. A spokesman for the Transport Ministry said President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Transport Ministry's progress review meeting held at Temple Trees recently instructed Transport Minister Kumara Welgama and Deputy Minister Rohana Dissanayake to directly intervene in the issue and expedite the work.

The new bridge across the Nilwala Ganga about a mile beyond the Matara railway station has already been constructed at a cost of Rs 250 million. "It has been planned to construct 12 bridges in the segment from Matara to Beliatta and they are the most costly and time consuming tasks," he said.

The Railway Department has acquired 1,411 plots of lands from the people to construct the railway line while costing nearly Rs 710 million to pay compensations for them.

The Government has allocated 16 acres to the people who have lost their lands due to construction of the railway line.

A contract has already been signed with a Chinese company to extend the 30-kilometre long railway track from Matara to Beliatta under the first phase at a cost of US $250 million.

The project to extend the rail line to Kataragama will be carried out in two stages.

The track will be extended up to Hambantota from Beliatta under the second stage and last phase, it will be extended from Hambantota to Kataragama. "Four railway stations are to be constructed in Kekanadura, Bambarenda, Wewurukannala and Beliatta while two sub stations will be constructed in Piladuwa and Weharahena between Matara to Beliatta segment," he said.

Minister Welgama inspecting the construction sites urged the support from officers of railways, foremen of stations and other staff to achieve the results within a short period.

"With the extension of the railway line from Matara to Kataragama, it would provide a more comfortable journey to Kataragama," he further said.