Oct 29 (IL) The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has initiated a new project named 'Greater Colombo Grid Substation Project' in its effort to improve the electricity network in Colombo. The aim of this project is to augment the electricity transmission capacity in the Colombo City and its southern suburbs. Under this project, financed by the German government, four new grid substations will be installed at Sri Jayawardanepura, Dehiwala, Havelock Town and Maradana.
These new substations will be connected to the existing transmission system at Kolonnawa and Pannipitiya through a state-of-the-art high voltage underground power cable network. The total cost of this project is estimated at around Rs. five billion. With the completion of this project in January 2006, the electricity supply system in the Greater Colombo area will have a significantly higher level of reliability, the CEB claimed.
The underground cable route will start from Kolonnawa and proceed to Pannipitiya via Maradana, Havelock Town and Dehiwala. Excavation work has already commenced on several key sections of the cable route. The route length of around 28 km will involve several major roads such as Kolonnawa Road, Dematagoda Road, T. B. Jayah Mawatha, C. W. W. Kannangara Mawatha, Reid Avenue, Havelock Road, Dickmans Road, Duplication Road, Galle Road, Hill Street, Borelesgamuwa, Maharagama Road and High Level Road.
The excavation of Galle Road starting from the Dehiwala Bridge to the Dehiwala junction began yesterday and is expected to continue for about a month. During this time, parking on either side of that section of the Galle Road will be restricted. However, all excavation works will be carried out during the night to minimize traffic congestion.
The Ceylon Electricity Board solicits the cooperation of the public in this important national project and regrets sincerely any inconvenience caused as a result of the excavation work
