-as contract signed for Phase 1 of East Bank-East Coast Road Linkage Project from Ogle to Eccles
Georgetown, Ministry of Finance, June 24, 2022: Senior Finance Minister Dr. Ashni K. Singh today emphasized that the road linkage being formed to connect Guyana’s East Coast and East Bank corridors as well as the roads connecting Georgetown City to the country’s hinterland regions signal the commitment of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C ) Government to countrywide road and infrastructure network development and Guyana’s rapid transformation. The Minister was at the time delivering the feature address at the contract-signing and sod- turning ceremony held today for Phase 1 of the new East Bank-East Coast Road linkage project (Ogle to Haags Bosch, Eccles). The Minister added that Government will be continuing to ensure that major road networks are upgraded while also ensuring that additional new roads and infrastructure are completed as part of President Irfaan Ali’s vision for the country.
“What you have in this People’s Progressive Party Civic Government, ably led by our President, is not only to plan and plan in a visionary manner, but an ability also to execute and deliver plans. I urge you to keep your eyes keenly focused on the agenda for transformation because you will see roads and bridges, hospitals and schools, industrial estates, you will see not only public investment, but private investment…..several private investors building internationally branded hotels, here and elsewhere adding thousands of rooms to our room-stock and creating thousands of jobs in the tourism industry,” Dr. Singh emphasized.
The Finance Minister told attendees as well that soon Government will be signing another major contract for the reconstruction of the current Soesdyke/Linden Highway for which a team from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) are in Guyana on an Appraisal Mission to finalize discussion on the reconstruction of this major thoroughfare. The highway links the Capital City Georgetown to Regions Seven, Eight and Ten and other riverain communities of the country.
Also speaking at the event was Minister of Public Works Bishop Juan Edghill who explained to attendees that the building of the Ogle to Haags Bosch four-lane roadway would see Government being able to open up new lands and when that happens there would be more lands for housing, agriculture, agro-processing, industrial development and for the oil and gas sector among other areas.
“You cannot transform and modernize a country without putting in road infrastructure,” Minister Edghill added as he also indicated to residents that as of Monday, June 27, Government will be removing all encumbrances close to public roadways including derelict vehicles.
While delivering his remarks, Indian High Commissioner to Guyana Dr. K. J. Srinivasa recalled that the project was envisaged over 7-8 years ago during the term of former President Donald Ramotar and when the current President, His Excellency Irfaan Ali served as Minister of Housing.
“As they say, better late than never,” the Indian High Commissioner posited as he noted that the road is expected to benefit the people of Guyana immensely.
“Friends as we see with our own eyes, the phenomenal transformation is unfolding in front of our own eyes,” High Commissioner Srinivasa emphasized while reminding attendees of the various projects in the past for which India assisted Guyana, including the National Stadium at Providence, East Bank Demerara, among others. He noted too that India, while continuing its own development in infrastructure, also recognizes this need in other countries such as Guyana.
Funding for the Phase 1 of the East Bank-East Coast Road Linkage Project (Ogle to Eccles) was garnered through a Line of Credit received by the Government of Guyana from the Export-Import Bank of India in an amount equivalent to Fifty Million United States Dollars (US$50,000,000) with the Civil Works contract awarded to Ashoka Buildcon Ltd. (Ashoka) totaling a sum of USD 106,377,380.77.
Works on the new road include construction of 7.8km of virgin road with an asphaltic concrete finish along the main road alignment consisting of four (4) lanes, each 3.6m wide and a median creating two traffic lanes in each direction. Concrete drains, sidewalks and a utility corridor will be constructed along the length of the roadway and several safety features will also be incorporated. In addition, construction works will also include a two (2) lane connector road at Eccles-Haags Bosch. This road will also be of asphaltic concrete while minor bridges and culverts will be constructed along the connector.
It was only in May last that Government signed a contract with a Brazilian construction contractor (Construtora Queiroz Galvao S.A) for the construction of the new Linden to Mabura road being funded by the Government of Guyana, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the United Kingdom at a total cost of $32.5 Billion.
In May 2022 as well, Government signed the single largest public infrastructure project undertaken in the history of the country for construction of a new US$261 million Demerara Harbour Bridge. Meanwhile a contract was also signed by Government for studies in connection with the bridging of the Corentyne river. Additionally, President Irfaan Ali earlier this year commissioned and opened a new four lane road leading from Mandela Avenue, Georgetown to Eccles on the East Bank of Demerara.
Also in attendance at the contract-signing ceremony were former President Donald Ramotar, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar and Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues.