The estimated cost for the Omanthai rail station is Rs. 20 million. It will be constructed with the assistance of the people of Galle and its suburbs.
The government expects to start the rail service along the northern line to Omanthai from the first of August. Currently the Yal Devi train on the northern line operates up to Thandikulam.
The government plans to reconstruct the northern track from Vavuniya via Kilinochchi and Elephant Pass to Kankasanthurai in Jaffna under the Uthuru Wasanthaya (Northern Spring) development program.
The Northern rail track was severely damaged by the LTTE as they have used the parts of it to build bunkers in the rebel controlled territory. As a result of this destruction the train services on Northern track were limited to Vavuniya only for the last 20 years.
The reconstruction of the track will be carried out in three phases. The first phase to lay the track from Vavuniya to Omanthai has already been completed. The track will be completed from Omanthai to Pallai in the second phase and laying of the rail track from Pallai to Kankasanthurai will take place under the third phase.
The 159 kilo meters long Northern rail track consists of 85 bridges, 16 stations and 12 sub stations all of which need to be rebuilt.
The Sri Lankan government estimates that nearly Rs. 14 billion would cost to restore the entire rail track.
Sri Lanka's Transport Ministry had signed and agreement with the IRCON International Limited, an Indian government company, for the reconstruction of the 90 km segment of the rail track from Omanthai to Pallai at a cost of USD 185 million.
The Indian government has offered to assist the reconstruction of railway lines from Jaffna to Omanthai and Palaly. State and private institutions are also assisting the construction of railway stations in the North.
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