Construction work on the Peliyagoda cargo village will begin shortly.

This will ease congestion at the Colombo Port.

“We have received clearance from the Urban Development Authority and plan to build a rail track to transport cargo from the Port to Peliyagoda.

“All deliveries will take place at the Peliyagoda cargo village after completion of construction work,” Sri Lanka Ports Authority Chairman Dr.Priyath Bandu Wickrama said.

With the aim to improve berth and yard production, more rubber tyred gantry will be brought into the port.

The Road Development Authority has also been instructed to construct a flyover at the Ingurukade junction.

“At the moment the traffic system provides less priority to trucks that leave the port. Having a flyover at the Ingurukade colour lights will improve efficiency of port activities,” the Chairman said.

According to Wickrama there are certain limitations in the port when it comes to increasing the number of trucks inside the port and the main priority of the port is to provide a better service to ships. In some instances, particularly during peak hours around 600 to 700 trucks arrive into the port and it is difficult to allow all truckers inside the port since space to handle all activities is limited. In addition, four outward and three inward lanes will also be built in port access roads to ease the present congestion.

It is planned to shift all administrative functions from the port to an outside office.

“There will be a central administrative building and that will act as a one-stop-shop and freight forwarders and shippers will also get space in the building,” the Chairman said.

The Ports Authority is also planning to implement short term, medium and long-term plans to improve port productivity. “We have introduced a few systems which are working well at the moment and are ready with the physical infrastructure to go ahead with on line payment and clearing system enabling any customer to work with Customs without any issue,” Dr. Wickrama said.
(DN-23062011)