PPP committed to examining feasibility for railway along ECD, EBD corridors – Pres Ali

– says project will be explored during 2nd term in office

In light of the ongoing industrial development and population growth along the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) and East Bank of Demerara (EBD) corridors, it might be the right time to explore a railway service to cater to persons and ease traffic congestion.
This was reiterated by President Dr Irfaan during his address at the commemorative services to mark the 75th anniversary of the Enmore Martyrs at Enmore, ECD. He noted that a railway is in keeping with the People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s (PPP/C) long-term developmental vision.

“In the next term of office for the People’s Progressive Party, we will look at the viability of having a train along the East Coast and East Bank corridor where the bulk of the population already lives,” the President said.
Previously, President Ali has acknowledged that in theory, a railway makes sense considering the population density along the East Bank. But he had noted that a lot of technical work has to be done before it can be deemed feasible.
At one time, Guyana had active railways, one from Demerara to Berbice and the other from Demerara to Essequibo. However, both came to an end in the 1970s and have never been resurrected.
There are a number of infrastructural projects ongoing that will link the ECD with the East Bank. Foremost among them is the Ogle to Eccles roadway. A US$106.4 million contract was signed last year with Indian company Ashoka Buildcon, to construct this four-lane road and works have already started.
It was announced in January 2022 that Ashoka Buildcon Limited won the contract to construct the road, ahead of two other Indian companies. Ashoka has previously built a number of bridges and roads.
According to the company’s website, it even built a bridge in 38 days, namely the Mandve Bridge near Pandharpur, India. According to the company, the bridge was supposed to be built in 12 months.
The Diamond-Ogle bypass project will see the construction of some 26 kilometres of road linking two of the country’s main thoroughfares. This new road link will also be connected to key communities in Georgetown and along the East Bank of Demerara.
There is also work ongoing to turn 800 acres of land in Enmore into an industrial zone. President Ali, who visited the area last month while accompanied by Minister within the Ministry of Public Works Deodat Indar and other technical staff, had explained that already, works are progressing on the first 250 acres. Once completed, the Enmore industrial zone will accommodate both light and heavy industrial and commercial activities.
“Enmore is going to be specifically for heavy industrial, industrial, heavy commercial, and commercial activities. Works are ongoing now to open up the first 50 five-acre plots. That’s 250 acres of industrial. After that, 500 acres will be developed for industrial, commercial and light commercial.”
“So, we’ll have a total of about 800 acres of land developed in Enmore for industrial, commercial, and light commercial. The work is already started, as you can see here,” President Ali had said.
When tenders went out for the infrastructural development of the Enmore industrial zone, an important project the Government has said will create numerous economic opportunities on the ECD and create as much as 4000 jobs, it had attracted multiple bids from local companies. (G-8)