Preparation of Resettlement Plan (RP) for the Maradana to Padukka section by amalgamating the RP prepared for the Maradana to Homagama section in the Kelani Valley Railway Line.

      

 

Funded by: The Government of Sri Lanka under the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation/Sri Lanka Railways

Budget: USD 87,558

Implemented by: United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)

Partners: The Government of Sri Lanka, The Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation and Sri Lanka Railways

and Colombo Suburban Railway Project (CSRP)

Duration:  Four months (August – November 2018)

Location: Maradana to Padukka

 

Background

Out of the total population in Sri Lanka, 5.8 million (28%) reside in the Colombo Metropolitan Region of the Western Province, where the annual population growth rate is 1.05%.  Majority of the Government offices and commercial establishments operate within the CMR within Colombo City, and over 300,000 vehicles enter CMR daily causing excessive traffic congestion.

The Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) intends to improve the railway system in the Western Province and the Colombo Metropolitan Region (CMR) to increase share in the rail transport mode to ease traffic congestion.  At present, the railway system covers about 13% of passenger transport within the CMR through long distance trains and commuter trains. The government aims to increase the share of railway in the overall passenger and freight transport sector substantially by improving and modernizing the Sri Lanka Railway Network in the CMR which covers four heavily congested major passenger corridors, namely, the Kelani Valley Line, the Main Line, the Coastal Line and the Puttlam Line.

To develop the above four major corridors, the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation (MoTCA) and Sri Lanka Railways (SLR) are commencing the preparation of necessary projects to be considered for financing by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) under the Colombo Suburban Railway Project (CSRP).   This project has the capability to cater to the expected railway transport demand and services for the next 20 years.

The Kelani Valley (KV) Railway Line, is one of the four major corridors of the Sri Lanka Railway (SLR). The line extending from Maradana to Avissawella is 60 km, with a daily passenger volume of 14,600.  It connects the City Centre with several important and highly populated suburbs east of Colombo such as Nugegoda, Kottawa, Maharagama, Homagama, and Avissawella.

Currently, the single-track is not functioning to its full potential due to structural and encroachment issues and deteriorated infrastructure. Although the original narrow gauge was developed into a broad gauge in the 1980s, the trace line was kept intact. As a result, the line speed was critically curtailed, averaging at 35 Km/h and thereby substantially reducing the potential of the line for passenger and freight transport.

It has been identified that Padukka which is 35 km from Maradana as the best location to attract passengers from the Horana Corridor. Therefore, considering the present and future demands, GOSL intends to upgrade the railway line to a double track up to Padukka, and to rehabilitate the existing single track in the remaining section up to Avissawella. As such, the MoTCA/SLR, intends to carry out an in-depth social survey for the KV Line project area to prepare Resettlement Plans (RPs) to resettle affected households and restore livelihoods of Project Affected Persons (PAPs) with the view of mitigating adverse impacts of the project.

 

The Assignment

An in-depth social survey for the KV Line project area was conducted by UN-Habitat for the Colombo Suburban Railway Project of MoTCA/SLR in view of the resettlement programme. UN-Habitat has been tasked with conducting the socio-economic survey, asset inventory survey, and census survey to prepare a Resettlement Plan (RPs) for the Maradana – Padukka section of the KV line.

At present, UN-Habitat has completed the socio-economic survey from Maradana to Homagama (Phase 01) within the railway ROW/project affected area and is engaged in preparing the socio-economic impact report and RP. For section one of the second phase, UN-Habitat will continue the work from Homagama to Padukka to survey the socio-economic situation and prepare the RP for that section and amalgamate with the RP of Maradana to Homagama.

 

Main Objective of the Assignment

The main objective of the assignment is to prepare necessary documents/reports to mitigate land acquisition related adverse impacts, compensate losses, provide development benefits to the affected persons/communities and livelihood restoration, with the aim of re-establishing and improving the quality of lives of PAPs. It reflects the commitment of the government towards Displaced Persons (DPs) particularly in paying entitlements promptly, and assist them in finding alternatives for improving livelihoods. The RP shall be prepared based on the Resettlement Framework (RF) of the project which was prepared in accordance with the laws, regulations, and policies of the GoSL and the Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS) of ADB 2009.

 

Specific Tasks

  • Carry out meaningful consultations in the field
  • Conduct census, asset inventory, and socio-economic survey in the project affected area, and collect all required data
  • Identify the PAPs especially the disadvantaged and vulnerable groups
  • Identify changes in land use, restrictions of access to assets and common property resources
  • Assess risks and opportunities for affected people
  • Define categories of eligibility, identify strategies and options to restore livelihoods and quality of life
  • Preparation of the Entitlement Matrix (EM)
  • Develop budget and implementation schedules for the RP

 

In fulfilling the above objectives, UN Habitat will prepare a Resettlement Plans for the construction of a double track for the Maradana – Padukka section of the KV line.  This assignment will include continuing the existing socio-economic survey from the Homagama to Padukka section and prepare the RP by amalgamating the RP prepared earlier for the Maradana to Homagama section by UN-Habitat. 

UN-Habitat will be guided by the Resettlement Framework prepared according to the relevant laws, regulations and policies of GoSL and safeguard guidelines of ADB’s Safeguard Policy Statement 2009.

UN-Habitat will work closely with MoT&CA/SLR, CSRP and other key stakeholders in implementing this project. A participatory methodology will be followed where the community and the APs are engaged and their views and ideas sought, and where feasible changes to the designs will be made. Challenges and issues along with community suggestions for solutions will be communicated to GoSL.

All stakeholders will be made fully aware of the purpose of the initiative as part of the social safeguards and principles underlying the approach. Formats developed for data collection will be discussed with the Affected People (APs). UN-Habitat will utilize a flexible and practical approach given the need to adapt to the ground situation. As such, field visits, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), Key Informant Interviews (KII) and Surveys will be adapted to suit the local conditions.

In developing the RP, UN-Habitat will incorporate planning perspectives and ensure consistency with urban development plans that are already approved or under preparation. Concerns regarding disaster risk reduction and climate resilience will also be addressed. Where appropriate, international good practices and experiences will be shared and replicated in implementing the project.

 

Assignment Outputs

  • Database prepared with information of PAP
  • Socio-Economic Study Report
  • Resettlement Plan with Entitlement Matrix

 

Expected Accomplishments

  • Communities in target locations are consulted and their needs and aspirations are considered in the resettlement options offered.
  • Sustainable settlement planning for the affected community offering improved and resilient measures, and necessary improved community infrastructure facilities.
  • Improve awareness on the participatory process among all stakeholders engaged in the resettlement process.
  • Preparation of Entitlement Matrix to offer compensation for various PAP categories
  • Design Grievance Redress Mechanisms that are applicable to the local social context.