Tyrone Reid, Staff Reporter
PLANS TO resuscitate a degenerating downtown Kingston will cost much more than what was budgeted. Francis 'Paco' Kennedy, chairman of the Kingston City Centre Improvement Company (KCCIC), told The Gleaner that design changes to the transportation centre was the budget buster.
The construction of the transport hub, which will be located in the vicinity of Water Lane to Port Royal Street, was projected to cost approximately $180 million but has leapfrogged to around $350 million.
Mr. Kennedy explained that the National Works Agency (NWA) and the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) insisted on altering the design of the transportation hub.
"JUTC (Jamaica Urban Transit Company) wanted some extra things like over head passes ... it is a design issue they have put in a lot of extra things," Mr. Kennedy revealed.
The Urban Development Corporation (UDC), project manager for KCCIC's 240 plans to improve the Business Improvement District (BID), confirmed that the transportation centre has exceeded the initial budget. "The transportation centre was sent to tender. The lowest tender received exceeded the available funding; the scope of works was reduced; however, the estimate still exceeds the available funding," read a response from the UDC.
AWAITING WORD
The UDC added that it was awaiting word from the KCCIC regarding the additional funding.
Mr. Kennedy emphasised that the increase in the cost would not prove a deterrent to the construction of the centre, as the KCCIC is still working to secure the additional funds.
"We are trying to raise the funds ... it is still feasible at $300 million. It is going to be an income-generating project (as) it will have shops and other commercial aspects...," he said.
The transportation centre will be similar to the one currently being constructed in Half-Way Tree, St. Andrew. All buses and taxis will be removed to this new area.
In addition to the construction of the transportation centre, there were two other major projects to be undertaken by the KCCIC: the refurbishing of the St. William Grant Park and the construction of the Bolivar Cultural Area.
Plans for the park have been finalised. The UDC had said that the bid would have been put to tender by the end of January.
The Bolivar Cultural Area was designed and will be financed and constructed by the Venezuelan government. Work is expected to commence within the next three months. The area, which will be located in the vicinity of Upper Church Street to east of the Ward Theatre, will showcase Venezuelan and Latin American culture.
