(by Chandani Jayatilleke)

The proposed road and rail link between India and Sri Lanka across the Palk Strait together with an associated network roads in the hinterland will be realised only if Sri Lanka and India register 6 to 8 percent GDP growth, an expert engineer said.

The estimated cost of the land bridge is Rs. 60 billion, the highway link to the proposed Colombo/Anuradhapura highway Rs. 27 billion and the proposed Colombo/Anuradhapura highway Rs. 42 billion.

“These huge investments will not be financially sound until the Indian and Sri Lankan economies begin to register substantial economic growth, said Dr. D.S. Jayaweera, an expert with the Ministry of Transport and Highways.  He said the Government should consider this as part of Sri Lanka’s economic development strategy as there will be a major Asian Highway Sub Regional Route built across Chennai.

Through the proposed project Sri Lanka and India can gain many economic benefits which they are currently deprived of Dr. Jayaweera presented a paper on ‘Preliminary Financial and Economic Evaluation for the Proposed Land Bridge between Sri Lanka and India at a seminar organised by the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka in Colombo last Saturday.

He said in Sri Lanka’s case, economic growth and even access to the bridge are critically dependent on the restoration of peace in the northern part of the island because the bridge, which will have a two way road and a single rail track is to link Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu with Talaimannar in the Mannar district.

“Much depends on the outcome of the peace talks with the LTTE which are to begin on September 16.  If peace was restored and roads were built linking the bridge to the proposed growth centres of Anuradhapura, Trincomalee and Hambantota besides Colombo, 80% of trade and tourism between India and Sri Lanka could be routed through the bridge, Dr. Jayaweera said.   As of last year, India exported US$ 600 million worth of goods to Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka exported goods worth US$ 58 million to India by sea and air.

The building of the associated interior road would cost Sri Lanka and additional US$ 740 million, Dr. Jayaweera said.  Chula de Silva of the Sri Lanka Institute of Engineers said the construction of the bridge would itself trigger “tremendous economic opportunities” by bringing about a “paradigm shift” in thinking among the people of the two countries.  The benefits are many as it could lead to Sri Lanka becoming a manufacturing centre for export to India under the Free Trade Agreement.  Tourists would flock to the island.  Goods would become plentiful and cheaper.

Government sources said that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Science and Technology Minister Milinda Moragoda are the prime movers of the project as they see it as the best way to develop the north and the northwestern coast of Sri Lanka and wean the people of the north away from separatist terrorism.  There is considerable enthusiasm in India also.  New Delhi has called for a feasibility study and Saturday’s seminar was a follow up to the one earlier in Chennai under the auspices of the Institution of Engineer Tamil Nadu branch.

To take care of future needs, the bridge would have provision for a four-lane road and a double track rail link, Dr, Jayaweera said.  Both the Sri Lankan and Indian participants at the seminar said that the bridge was technically feasible, but Dr. Amal Kumarage of the University of Moratuwa said that euphoria had to be replaced by a hard headed, balanced and realistic approach.  He called for a deep study of all aspects of the project.

Funding of the project could be a major problem.  The Asian Development Bank may be approached.  Big Indian companies such as Larsen and Toubro and Gammon, which participated in the seminar, could build and operate the bridge and levy a toll of US$ 3, Dr. Jayaweera said.

Given the high sensitivity in Sri Lanka to the impact of such projects on the environment, the environmental issues thrown up by the project should be addressed right through, said Hydrologist Dr. Ranjith Galapaththi.  Among the key projects adversely affected by environmental issues are the Norochcholai and Upper Kotmale power projects and the Colombo airport expansion project.  The Indians are well aware of this.  As an Indian delegate D. Srinivasan of the Indian Concrete Institute put it, nowadays, “green” means “stop”.

The one-day seminar at the BMICH attracted about 100 participants, including four top experts from India.