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| Objective
2 |  |
Improve Accessibility and Mobility
The number of motor vehicles
is increasing rapidly in the Colombo area. Current trends suggest a rapid growth
in motor vehicle use and ownership in the region in the coming years.
This is an important issue that has implications on urban environment, productivity
and quality of life of the people in Colombo, particularly because the urban road
networks are severely over crowded and cannot accommodate any further increases
in traffic volume. Unless corrective measures are introduced Colombo could soon
experience of the problems of Bangkok. The structure plan seeks to avoid this
situation through the introduction of new transportation facilities and a land
use plan that improves accessibility and mobility through out the region.
| Objective
3 | |
Promote Environmentally Sustainable
Urban Growth
Environment is a fundamental issue in urban development.
In developing policies towards the management of the urban environment, the future
environmental considerations as well as environmental problems that are already
present must be taken into account. These considerations have influenced largely
explain the introduction of growth centre concept into CMR in order to concentrate
development in selected areas so that the natural environment and the rural landscape
can be more effectively controlled. In addition, the structure plan also recommends
adaptive environmental designs so that the urban development could limit the unwarranted
changes to the natural environment. These considerations play an important role
in the Structure plan because most of the CMR is a low-lying flood plain, which
needs protection from unplanned development.
| Objective
4 | |
Reinforce the Core Functions
of the Metropolitan Area
The structure plan identifies a Core Area
which consists of city Colombo Fort, Sri Jayawardenepura - Kotte and a few local
authorities in the Western Province. The economic functions in this area should
be strengthen and, extended beyond the city of Colombo into the newly defined
Core Area. Improved transportation facilities are important to increase accessibility
of this region with the rest of the country and to enhance mobility within the
region.
| Objective
5 | |
Increase the Housing Supply
The housing supply in the CMR remains very critical especially among the
low-income families. Despite the concerted efforts by the government, the improvement
of the quality and the quantity of housing remain less than satisfactory. In fact,
the current situation indicates a significant deterioration of the housing stock,
which also indicates the widening gap between demand for and supply of housing.
This problem has been addressed in the proposed new growth centres through the
provision of infrastructure facilities to facilitate the expansion of expand the
housing stock.
| Objective
6 | |
Formulate an Investment Programme
for Funding The implementation
of the CMR Plan requires an investment plan. Accordingly, a detailed investment
plan is included in this report identifying major revenue and funding sources.
It also recognizes the vital role that the private sector plays in urban development
and, accordingly, various opportunities have been created to increase its participation
in urban development. In addition
to the above a few other objectives are pursued under the structure plan and they
can be listed as: · To
have an orderly development which will be compatible with the existing use of
the urban land. · To reduce
adverse effects of ad hoc urban development particularly from large construction
on physical landscape, socio-economic aspects and environment. ·
To expedite the expansion and modernisation of the Colombo port to promote economic
activities and functions in the City of Colombo and also to strengthen the regional
economic base of the CMR. ·
To create investment opportunities for the Private Sector, particularly in the
Industrial & Housing Sectors. ·
To provide sufficient land and space for future investment on economic development
and urban expansion.
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