ECD/EBD bypass project back on-stream- New contracting company to execute works
DPI, GUYANA, Thursday, July 20, 2017
The construction of a bypass road between Ogle on the East Coast, Demerara (ECD) to Diamond on the East Bank Demerara (EBD), East Coast/East Bank Road Linkage Project is now progressing after numerous delays. The road is expected to have four lanes and is anticipated to bring relief to commuters travelling from the ECD to Georgetown and the EBD.
His Excellency, Venkatachalam Mahalingam, High Commissioner of India to Guyana.
High Commissioner of India to Guyana, His Excellency, Venkatachalam Mahalingam said that the US$50M project was delayed due to challenges in identifying a suitable contracting company to execute the works.
The High Commissioner, who was delivering remarks Wednesday at the Ministry of Finance, during the signing of the US $17.5 M line of credit to upgrade primary health care facilities, said a new company from India called RITES will arrive in Guyana by the end of July, to conduct the preliminary study for the project. RITES, he added, is a Public-Sector Company that has been executing roads and bridges projects worldwide.
When the preliminary study is completed, the company will discuss it with the government. A detailed project report will then be prepared for the project to be implemented.
High Commissioner Mahalingam pointed out that the Indian Government had chosen two most important companies called National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL) to handle the project, “but they were too big for the project”.
“We thought that we should give the best to the government of Guyana, that’s how we chose those two companies. Those two companies were not willing to say no in the first instance and we realised later they were two big for this project, which is small to them but very important for us. Ultimately, we had to give them up and go for another company,” the High Commissioner explained.
The US$50M line of credit from the Exim Bank of India for this project was signed in March of this year, between Guyana and India.
By: Ranetta La Fleur