VIDEO: Illegal vendors to give way to multi-modal transport hub in Colombo
February 21, 2014 04:10 pm
Around 150 illegal vendors
in Manning Market and surrounding areas will give way to the multi-modal transport
hub in Colombo proposed by the Ministry of Transport.
The hub will include a
monorail service while the project aims at providing easy access to all
transport modes.
The Ministry of
Transport stated that around 150 illegal shops have been erected in and around
Manning Market while over 280 persons have identified themselves as owners of
these establishments.
The vendors will be
cleared from the area to give way to the transport hub. However, the Transport
Ministry stated that it has made special provisions in its plans to include
space for over 400 shops within the proposed complex.
Ministry officials
stated that the design for the hub includes a Basement section which will allow
vendors to set up their shops, providing better facilities than they currently
enjoy.
The Basement section
of the hub which will also act as the passenger corridor will have multiple
access points.
Meanwhile, the plan
includes turning the current railway station into a railway museum complete
with outdoor exhibits, officials stated.
The concept for the
hub, which has been designed by a Chinese group, has been sent to the Treasury
for approval while the project is estimated to be complete within a two-year
period.
