Around 150 illegal vendors in Manning Market and surrounding areas will give way to the multi-modal transport hub in Colombo proposed by the Ministry of Transport.

The hub will include a monorail service while the project aims at providing easy access to all transport modes.

The Ministry of Transport stated that around 150 illegal shops have been erected in and around Manning Market while over 280 persons have identified themselves as owners of these establishments.

The vendors will be cleared from the area to give way to the transport hub. However, the Transport Ministry stated that it has made special provisions in its plans to include space for over 400 shops within the proposed complex.

Ministry officials stated that the design for the hub includes a Basement section which will allow vendors to set up their shops, providing better facilities than they currently enjoy.

The Basement section of the hub which will also act as the passenger corridor will have multiple access points.

Meanwhile, the plan includes turning the current railway station into a railway museum complete with outdoor exhibits, officials stated.

The concept for the hub, which has been designed by a Chinese group, has been sent to the Treasury for approval while the project is estimated to be complete within a two-year period.