Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana visited the Dematagoda train carriage repair work site operated by TANTRI Tramadors Pvt Ltd.
Decommissioned Romanian and Powerset train carriages are being completely overhauled in this workshop.
The Railway Department and TANTRI have jointly repaired 300 carriages which were taken out of service in 2017, out of which 260 carriages have been completed put back into service.
The Railway Department will refurbish the wheel sets and brake system and give it to TANTRI and after that the chassis, body and interior of the train carriage will be completed and handed over by TANTRI.
It was revealed here that it costs about Rs. 25 million to completely repair one carriage and when railway carriages are bought from foreign countries and brought to Sri Lanka after paying shipping charges and insurance charges, the price of a train carriage increases several times.
After observing the work site, Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana, who said that this programme, which can save a lot of money and get jobs for a large number of people, should be carried forward continuously.
Also, the Minister said the Department of Railways and TANTRI should work together to build a new luxury tourist train to replace the Ella Odyssey train that is currently in use and that maximum support from the Government will be provided.
Railway General Manger D.S. Gunasekara and Managing Director of TANTRI Traders Company, Athula Haputantri were also present.
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