Jack Warner is planning to start building a tunnel to Maracas Bay by February 2011 and expects to have it completed in two or three years.
And the Works and transport Minister is convinced that it would be worth every cent of the investment.
“I will be the last person to spend money on a grandiose project just for my ego,” Warner told the Guardian newspaper.
He added, “It will not cost us billions because I will ensure that we undertake this project under a fixed price contract.”
It's part of a major transportation network that Warner is undertaking, which includes a highway from San Fernando to Point Fortin. The minister plans to begin the highway project on January 26 next year and get the the tunnel soon after that.
“This is no pie in the sky,” he told the paper, adding that he would hold consultations with all stakeholders and ensure that there would be minimal relocation for some people.
However he did not provide a cost for the project, which was announced by Finance MInister Winstion Dookeran in the budget on September 8.
“We have discussed the issue of a tunnel-boring machine which is used to excavate through a variety of soil and rocks. If we plan to use this device we will have to source or lease it. We certainly will not buy it,” the minister said.
He said the National Infrastructure Development Company (Nidco) is conducting various studies to ensure best international practices for the project.
“I have already read the riot act to Nidco and all the contractors that when they agree on a fixed price contract, the Government will not entertain any cost overruns.
"The scope of the work must include all the things you have to do, so variations will not come in to cloud the issue that will lead to cost overruns. We can’t do that.
“This project will bring more to our country than imagined, in terms of opening up the whole North Coast road, in maintaining the area’s flora and fauna, but, most importantly, we have to look at what it will do for tourism,” he added.
Civil engineer Vaughn Lezama believes the project can be handled by local engineers. In addition he told the Guardian the boring would generate enough rock and soil that could be used for the construction sector.
However, Winston Riley, head of the Joint Consultative Council does not think the tunnel would be a priority. “This is not one of the projects that we should be looking at. It is not one of those that should take a priority position in terms of expenditure.”
No comments:
Post a Comment