Government contracts awarded to improve city roadways
GOVERNMENT has announced approval of awards, through the National Procurement and Tender Board Administration, for the rehabilitation, construction and maintenance of various roads in Georgetown. Minister of Public Works and Communications, Mr. Robeson Benn signed the contracts at his Wight’s Lane, Kingston Office, in the presence of Permanent Secretary. Mr. Balraj Balram, the awardees and ministry engineers.
Of the four lots, Lot One was awarded to Gaico Construction Services Inc. for $105M; Lot Two to Dipcon Engineering Services Limited for $100M and Lots Three and Four to Courtney Benn Contracting Services Limited, for $115M and $99M, respectively.
In Lot One, the areas to be covered include a network spawning Subryanville, Section ‘K’ Campbellville, Kitty, Newtown and Prashad Nagar.
Lot Two entails maintenance in 12 areas, including Kingston, Alberttown and Queenstown while Lot Three caters for similar works on 11 thoroughfares and building of eight. In Lot Four, the undertakings are for maintaining 12 roads and constructing and rehabilitating seven.
The works are expected to commence in the first week of May and last between three and four months, with two engineers recruited, specifically, to monitor and supervise towards ensuring quality and timely completion.
Minister Benn said the intervention by government with respect to the roads in the capital is in keeping with the improvement and maintenance of infrastructure in asphaltic concrete.
This response by government is the one required at present, given the condition of the roads, he said, adding that, under the Urban Roads Programme, the Administration is allocating $150M for those in Regions Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam), Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara), Four (Demerara/Mahaica) and and Six (East Berbice/Corentyne).
Benn said his ministry has, significantly, expanded its capacity, in terms of the number of engineering staff and the engineers are fully involved, at the moment, with their overall efficiency improved.
“But there is still room for improvement which we are working towards in a systematic manner,” he indicated.
Benn said the Ministry is continuing its efforts to improve the public infrastructure, particularly with regards to roads, in order to facilitate the easy and efficient movement of people and goods.