$6 billion for CJIA developmental projects

CJIAGeorgetown: Government will invest more than US$65 million over the next five years in infrastructural works and coastal zone management systems. Some $6.6 billion has been budgeted for the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) to meet its strategic goals this year, as Government seeks to push ahead with plans to modernise its premiere airport.

In 2013, a total of $1.1 billion was expended on the expansion and modernisation of the CJIA. Additionally, $67.2 million was disbursed for the maintenance of hinterland airstrips while $80 million was spent to procure an Automated Dependent Surveillance Broadcast to bring the precision and reliability of satellite based surveillance to national airspace.

Delivering his 2014 budget presentation on Monday, the Minister said $682.6 million was spent for the docking of several ferry vessels, the acquisition of spares, and the rehabilitation of stellings.

The mangrove restoration and replanting programme will continue with the planting of 50,000 mangrove seedlings this year

In 2013, Government invested $11.3 billion to continue the construction of the East Bank Demerara and East Coast Demerara four-lane highways, CJIA access road, rural, community and hinterland roads, additional street lighting, and the rehabilitation of the Demerara Harbour Bridge.

In 2014, an amount of $13.7 billion is budgeted to improve roads and bridges network, of which $12.9 billion will be spent on roads and $844.2 million on bridges. The four-lane access road to the CJIA and the East Bank Demerara (EBD) four-lane highway are slated for completion this year and will alleviate much of the current traffic bottlenecks and improve safety.

Some $6.6 billion has been budgeted for the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) to meet its strategic goals this year

Works will commence on the West Coast Demerara Road and will include pavement rehabilitation, pedestrian and cycle lanes in selected high traffic areas, and street lighting.  The widening of the East Coast Highway will continue and road reconstruction works for the upgrading from Better Hope to Belfield will commence. Construction of the Parika/Ruby backdam roads will begin, thus opening up access to over 330 farming households and over 2000 acres of mixed crop farming. Engineering designs for the Canal Polder Numbers One and Two roads and feasibility studies and designs for the extension of the highway from Diamond to Timehri , EBD will be undertaken. On the East Bank Berbice, studies and designs will be completed and the complete reconstruction of six kilometres from Stanleytown to Everton and upgrade of 11.5 kilometres from Belle Vue to Light Town will commence.

 “Also in 2014, we will complete a financial feasibility study for the construction of a bypass road from Ogle to Eccles which will open new areas for development and investment and create a second route to reduce the congestion for the East Bank Demerara traffic. This will constitute the first phase in the development of an alternative route to the CJIA, thereby linking our two international airports and opening up a new development corridor for the East Bank Demerara. An amount of $7.7 billion is allocated for the improvement of rural, community and hinterland roads and for street lighting from Belle Vue to Patentia,” Dr Singh said.

He said negotiations have advanced substantially between the Brazilian and Guyanese technical working groups regarding the preparation of a design study for the construction of the Linden to Lethem Road. The technical assessment for alternative transport options, including the cost benefit analysis of a rail link to ultimately connect with the deep water harbour and container port on the Berbice River, will be completed.