Works on 33 roads will soon commence in Region Two after $1.047 billion in contracts were awarded yesterday to contractors within the region.
The contracts awarded will see 11.563 kilometres of roadway being rehabilitated by the Ministry of Public Works. The road projects have an average duration of 1.5 to 6 months and will be constructed with either asphaltic concrete or rigid pavement in various areas in Region Two.
Present at the signing was Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar, who called on the contractors to deliver quality work in a timely manner.
He reminded them that the road projects went through a tendering process and had to be evaluated by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB). He also urged residents to monitor the projects to ensure that they are being done according to specifications and the bill of quantities.
Indar also told the contractors that their work will be monitored and that necessary action will be taken against them should they default.
Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public Works, Vladim Persaud, told contractors that the ministry is willing to work with them provided they do what is expected of them. He added that the ministry has crusher run to assist them in completing the projects if they so require and which will be deducted from their payments.
A mobilisation advance will be made available to contractors to start their projects.
Region Two Chairperson Vilma De Silva expressed her pleasure at the continuous development in the region, noting that the roads will add to those already rehabilitated. She pointed out that the residents have called for the roads to be done and the region listened and now is delivering to the people.
The contracts were signed in the presence of Permanent Secretary, Persaud; Director General of Ministry of Agriculture, Madhanlall Ramraj; and regional officials.
On Tuesday, the government signed $4.1 billion in contracts for the construction of 100 community roads along the East Bank Demerara corridor.
It came a day after $7.8b worth of contracts for East Coast community roads were signed.
