Construction of the Anuradhapura South Multimodal Transport Centre has entered its final stage, with the project expected to be completed before the end of this year, according to the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development.
Deputy Minister of Urban Development Eranga Gunasekara inspected the project on Aug. 8 to review progress on the remaining construction work.
The project, which began in 2022 but was subsequently halted due to various challenges, resumed in 2025 with the involvement of a new consultancy firm.
Implemented under the Anuradhapura Integrated Urban Development Project, the transport centre is being funded jointly by the government and the French Development Agency, with an estimated project cost of Rs. 2, 500 million.
The centre is designed to bring bus and railway services together at a single location, providing passengers with more convenient and efficient connections between different modes of public transport.
It will accommodate short-, medium- and long-distance services around the clock. A dedicated “Touch & Go” facility has also been constructed for long-distance buses, allowing them to pick up and drop off passengers without remaining parked at the terminal.
Services from the facility are expected to connect Anuradhapura with destinations including Mullaitivu, Mannar, Trincomalee, Ampara, Batticaloa, Galle, Matara and Colombo.
The completed terminal will also include facilities for security, transport management, administration and financial services.
Officials involved in the project said the remaining construction work is scheduled to be completed before the end of 2026. (Newswire)