Khan: All aboard for TT mass transit

WORKS and Transport Minister Franklin Khan anno-unced that Government will be issuing tenders for the construction of a light monorail system in August and the days of unscrupulous maxi-taxi operators on the Priority Bus Route (PBR) will end in June. Speaking at a PNM public meeting in Tunapuna on Friday night, Khan said the creation of a light monorail system along the East-West Corridor (to Port-of-Spain and Diego Martin) and from Port-of-Spain to San Fernando will move one step closer to reality with the staging of an international convention of railway operators in Port-of-Spain at the end of May.

Reiterating Government’s commitment to establish a light monorail system in TT, Khan said the monorail consultants are in the country and are currently finalising the tender documents which should be issued in August. He added that “very shortly” Government will be making an investment decision about the monorail system. Khan also said the travelling public’s woes would soon be alleviated by the arrival from Brazil of 12 articulated buses and 25 conventional buses for the Public Service Transport Corporation. He said these buses would operate from Arima to Port-of-Spain and was confident that they would increase the efficiency of the public transportation system in TT.

The minister said work would soon begin on the first phase of the extension of the Solomon Hochoy Highway into Point Fortin and work was continuing apace on extensions to the Churchill Roosevelt and Diego Martin Highways. Khan also indicated that significant work was also being done to rehabilitate the nation’s rural road network and he extended a special invitation for newly “independent UNC MP” Gillian Lucky to attend a ceremony to mark the completion of a $50 million road improvement project in the Williamsville/Gasparillo area of her Pointe-a-Pierre constituency.

Touching briefly on the domestic seabridge and the Urban Development Company of TT’s initiatives to modernise the landscape of Port-of-Spain, Khan predicted exciting times ahead for infrastructural development in TT. Social Services Delivery Minister Christine Kangaloo spoke about Government’s efforts to assist the elderly, disabled and disadvantaged children in society through increased pensions, disability grants and the Chronic Disease Assistance Programme. Junior Culture Minister Eddie Hart outlined the achievements of his ministry and said his Tunapuna constituency was on the way to becoming a major training centre along the East-West Corridor.