Japan funds US$1.3bn for Colombo monorail

Sri Lanka is likely to opt for a 1.3 billion US dollar monorail mass transit system with Japanese finance to cut traffic congestion and boost mobility in the capital Colombo, an official said.

A monorail system will cost about 55 to 57 million US dollar for a kilometre to build, Rohan Seneviratne additional secretary of Sri Lanka's urban development ministry told the LBR-LBO Chief Executive Forum in Colombo.

An underground metro is likely to cost 120 million US dollars or more and a standard mass rapid transit system about 80 to 90 million US dollars he said.

Monorail systems are typically narrower and run on an elevated track through the entire length, while light rail systems have two tracks and can easily transit between elevated and street level. Larger MRT systems run underground or at street level.

Seneviratne, who is in an inter-agency committee that is looking at a traffic masterplan for the metro Colombo region said a feasibility of the first stage is being studied.

It involves a line running from Malabe, Talahena, Robert Gunawarden Mawatha, National Hospital, Union Place, World Trade Centre, Colombo Fort and Kotahena.

A link is also planned from Kollupitiya to National Hospital.

A second stage will involve a line running from Kotahena to Kelaniya.

A multimodal hub in Colombo's Pettah area is likely to cost another 175 million US dollars.

Seneviratne said a traffic masterplan done by Oriental Consultants of Japan also included linking other modes of transport to the rail system including bus-rapid-transit (BRT) and existing broad-gauge railways.

The Japan International Co-operation Agency is willing to fund the first phase, he said.

The monorail is likely to take up to eight years to build with about three years of pre-construction work including design and five years for construction, Seneviratne said.

The government (tax payers) will have to bear the capital cost capital of building the line, he said.

It was also likely that passengers may not be able to pay the full operation and maintenance cost requiring a government subsidy, based on the purchasing power of the people, Seneviratne said.

A 'government' subsidy will have to be financed through other tax sources including foods consumed by people in rural regions who do not travel on the monorail.

A mass rapid transit system provides a high quality, air-conditioned and quick service with no traffic jams and can usually draw out people who travel by private car and taxi, reducing road congestion.

A traveller in Colombo usually pays 32 to 40 rupees a kilometer to use a three-wheeler taxi and around 50 to 60 rupees a kilometre for an air-conditioned car.

While tax payer financed capital is usually used for mass transit systems, Thailand's Tanayong property group (now BTS Group Holdings Plc) built an elevated 23.5 kilometre BTS Skytrain system with private financing through its subsidiary Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Limited.

Though the company ran into financial difficulties during the Asian financial crisis, it is run profitably. Its income is supplemented by advertising and property.

It has since been tasked with operating and maintaining additional 12 kilometres of line built by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration as well as a BRT route.

Bangkok's underground Metro had state support for civil works but mechanical and engineering equipment was installed and is operated by a private firm.

Bangkok Metro Public Company Limited promoted by Ch Karnchang, a construction group, is still making operational losses but was cash positive by 2012.

Malaysia's high speed air-rail link KLIA Express, operated by Express Rail Link Sdn Bhd, is also private and self-financed with YTL group as the key shareholder.