Cable thefts on Katunayake Expressway leaves RDA facing Rs. 900 mn in costs

Colombo, December 27 (Daily Mirrir) - The Road Development Authority (RDA) is poised to sustain a cost of Rs.900 million for the restoration of damage done to the electrification system of the Katunayake - Colombo expressway by drug addicts in their acts of thefts of copper cables, an official said yesterday.

According to the official, these unscrupulous elements started stealing copper cables during the lockdown of the country for the pandemic. It has continued up until now and the RDA has estimated the cost for restoration at Rs.900 million.

The STF is to be deployed to control power cable thefts during night times. As such, the expressway remains safe for night-time travellers.

“These unscrupulous elements, believed to be drug addicts, carry out these thefts in the thick of night. For that, they disconnect power supply along the expressway. In that process, they have done extensive damage to 14 feeder and transformer points along the way. We are going to secure Rs. 900 million through a Cabinet paper to restore the damage,” he said.

Besides, the Police Special Task Force (STF) will be deployed to contain theft of power cables laid to electrify the Katunayake-Colombo expressway, according to a statement from the Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Ministry.

The RDA, upon instructions by Minister Bimal Ratnayake, requested Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala to act in this regard.

According to the statement, STF personnel will patrol the expressway after nightfall to curb unscrupulous individuals chipping away power cables.