Talks are underway between the Central Co-ordinating Agency for Roads and Municipal Councils around the country to undertake road upgrade works.

Agency head, John Prasad said that the CCAR has talked to the 14 Municipalities and Ministry Local Government and the Department of National Roads and have reached agreement on the forward work program and priority roads, so everybody is aware of exactly what programs are to be implemented.

According to Prasad, with both Department of National Roads and the Municipalities hold a database of roads and set up specific criteria on maintenance schedules which will be used as a baseline and then in consultation with stakeholders a suitable program is devised.

At the moment, the Agency has managed to complete the upgrading of 7 roads in Wailada Lami after outsourcing to New Zealand based High Way Stabilizers at a cost of $1.5million.

Meanwhile, close to $17.8 million dollars will be needed by the Agency to carry out upgrades around the country.

This money is expected to be sourced from Town rates, road levies and also from Government funding.

Story by: Paradise Tabucala.