The Importance of Community Participation in Road Infrastructure Development Projects (Based on the Integrated Road Investment Program)

Abstract

The availability of passenger transport facilities and freight transportation capacity is a crucial factor in the development of any region. In this regard, the road network holds a significant position. Before the colonial era in Sri Lanka, there were footpaths and cart roads, but an advanced road system, as seen today, did not exist, nor was there a major necessity for it. However, over time, with changing circumstances, an extensive road network, including expressways, has been developed. The need for an extensive and complex road system in Sri Lanka arose due to factors such as population growth, urbanization, industrialization, increased complexity in freight transportation services, rural-to-urban migration, the growth of the tourism industry, business and industrial expansion, the expansion of educational opportunities, and the emergence of new villages outside urban areas. The Road Development Authority (RDA), with funding from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), implemented the Integrated Road Investment Program to improve connectivity between rural communities and economic centers. This program focused on upgrading access roads in the Northern, Eastern, Uva, and Western Provinces, covering approximately 3,650km of rural and national roads through traditional road contracts, including essential maintenance. The second phase of the Integrated Road Investment Program aimed to further enhance rural access roads and national highways. The primary objective of this research was to identify how a community participation approach could be applied to road infrastructure projects, using the Integrated Road Investment Program as a case study. For this research, data were collected through questionnaires from a random sample of 100 respondents selected from 13 Grama Niladhari divisions within six Divisional Secretariat divisions in the Gampaha and Colombo districts. Additionally, several key informant interviews were conducted to gather further insights. This research, based on the second phase of the Integrated Road Investment Program, which focuses on rural road development projects in Colombo, Gampaha, and Kalutara districts, examined the importance of community participation in road infrastructure development projects.