As the second largest city in Sri Lanka, Kandy is geographically located as a nodal point of major road networks in Sri Lanka. However, at present, the city is afflicted with increasing traffic congestion caused by unsystematic road networks in the city. Hence there is a great need for a comprehensive study to develop a tailored and systematic traffic network that takes into consideration the urban expansion of the city. As a sustainable measure to address this issue, the Export-Import Bank of Korea (Korea Exim bank) has agreed to support the development of a master plan to strengthen the connectivity of the traffic network in Kandy city through a Knowledge Sharing Program (KSP). The Korean delegation conducted its inception workshop with Road Development Authority (RDA) on 2nd December, 2016.
Considering the historic, commercial and geographic significance of Kandy city, the insufficiency of an efficient road network becomes a greater challenge that impedes the economic and social development of the city. Narrow access routes, hilly terrain and being located in an environmentally and historically sensitive area severely restrict the smooth traffic flow within the city. In this context, Korea Exim bank intends to share the traffic network expansion experience of Korea with Sri Lanka by supporting the development of this plan which strengthens the accessibility between Northern and Eastern parts of Kandy. During the mission, the members from Korean consultant team stated that their master plan will also take into consideration other ongoing developments in Kandy city such as construction of the Central Expressway and the proposed 5.5km by-pass Kandy tunnel in order to create more synergy in their plan.
The scope of this KSP policy consultation includes analyzing the current and future traffic issues in Kandy city, conducting case studies on Korean experience in improving transport network, recommending how to improve the connectivity between the North and East of Kandy and providing necessary capacity building and dissemination programs to RDA officials. Through successful application of an efficient road network model in Kandy, it is anticipated to improve not only the accessibility and live-ability but also the investment attractiveness of the city.