Construction of a nearly $500 million truck parking facility at Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara, has been completed, with the Government now preparing to operationalise the site to allow truck owners to park, service and repair their vehicles away from residential communities and public roadways.
Minister of Housing Collin Croal visited the 12-acre facility on Friday afternoon, announcing that the next phase will focus on establishing the operational arrangements, including how truck owners and commercial operators can access the facility and utilise the services.
The development follows an initiative announced by President Irfaan Ali in response to requests from the commercial and industrial sectors for designated spaces to park and maintain their trucks. It also seeks to address complaints from residents about trucks obstructing roadways and activities such as spray painting being carried out in residential areas.
Croal said the facility will provide truck owners with a designated location to park their vehicles and undertake servicing and repairs, rather than conducting these activities in communities or the raodways.
“This is part of providing access and avenue for persons to be able to have an area that they can come and be able to service and repair their vehicle,” he said.
The Golden Grove facility is expected to accommodate hundreds of trucks and is the first such development in Region Four, specifically targeting operators along the East Bank Demerara corridor.
Croal explained that the initial phase has been completed up to the placement of crush and run material while additional work including the installation of lighting, is still required before the facility becomes operational.
“We have the design, we are putting the necessary separate [spaces] that is required to be able to put how much trucks and vehicles to be able to accommodate,” he said.
The ministry will determine the modalities for the facility’s operation and announce how operators will be able to access the site and the services available to them.
The Government is also planning a similar development at Enmore on the East Coast Demerara, where approximately 30 acres of land have been identified.
Source: NEW ROOMS SITE
