Consultations regarding the acquisition of 40 private properties near the site of the new Demerara Harbour Bridge are making significant progress, according to Attorney General Anil Nandlall.
As construction for the new Demerara River Bridge gains momentum, the government is actively involved in the relocation process for individuals situated in the vicinity of the construction zone. Attorney General Nandlall is working in collaboration with the Ministries of Public Works and Housing to expedite these efforts.
“Some 40 pieces of private property have to be compulsorily acquired and that process has commenced. Our government has a clear and settled procedure by which it approaches this type of situation,” explained Hon. Anil Nandlall, Attorney General & Legal Affairs Minister.
This move mirrors past negotiations for projects like the Berbice River Bridge, the Hope Canal, and the Gas-To-Energy venture at Wales. Property owners will receive compensation based on market value, with options including monetary compensation, land, or land with houses.
Nandlall reported positive responses from affected parties, emphasizing, “The response has been very good. In fact, from all indications, there is no one who is opposed to moving and who is opposed to the process. It is simply a question of arriving at an appropriate value of the compensation to be made.”
Engagements with residents in Nandy Park and Continental Park on the East Bank Demerara will continue until the properties are acquired equitably.
The new Demerara Harbour Bridge, estimated at 260 million US dollars, is being constructed by China Railway Construction Corporation Limited.
It will feature a modern four-lane structure, complete with a dedicated cycle lane, spanning an impressive 2.65 kilometers.
The bridge is anticipated to have a lifespan of approximately 100 years.
Josiah Williams, NCN News