Under the "Uthuru Vasanthaya" development drive, construction work on the new bridge across Malwatu Oya on the B-403 Arippu Marichchikadai-Mannar Highway has been accelerated.

The estimated cost of the project is Rs.400 million. The bridge is 240 meters long and 7.35 meters wide, official sources said.

The constuction task is under the Presidential Task Force headed by Senior Presidential Advisor and Chief of "Uthuru Vasanthaya" Task Force, MP Basil Rajapaksa.

The relevant authorities have been instructed to expedite the work since the bridge will be of immense benefit to the public traveling to Jaffna on the A-32 Highway.