Experts of the Chinese International Trust and Investment Company (CITIC) Group which is constructing the entire project have begun feasibility studies to extend the 27-kilometer long railway tracks from Matara to Beliatta under the first phase.
The commercial superintendent of the Railway Services Department Wijaya Samarasinghe has said that the Department has already acquired necessary lands for the construction purpose, the state-run radio, SLBC reported.
The Railway Department has acquired 1,411 plots of lands from the people to construct the railway line paying Rs. 710 million as compensations.
The entire project which is estimated to cost $366 million will be carried out in three phases. The funds are born by both the government and foreign agencies.
In Phase II, 48km-long track from Beliatta to Hambantota will be constructed. This line is scheduled to be complete by 2012.
Phase III will involve construction of the 39.5km-long segment from Hambantota to Kataragama.
The whole project is scheduled to be completed by 2015.
The Railway Department expects to provide a convenient service for the passengers as well as to use the railway line as a cost effective way to transport goods to the Southern Province.
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