Africa-Press – Seychelles. Preliminary works have begun to clear a site opposite the Inter Island Quay to make way for a parking development by the Seychelles Ports Authority (SPA).
Inmates from the Seychelles Prison Service (SPS) were on site yesterday to clean up and remove all the rubbish dumped in the area, and to clear away invasive species, so that SPA can move ahead with the planned project.
As explained by SPA chief executive, Sony Payet, the project is part of SPA’s development plan to maximise parking space for vehicles going to and from the quay, given the high level of traffic congestion in the area.
“For the time being it will be ground level parking spaces where people can park their cars. We are planning for it to be a controlled parking, and it might be a paying one, but this is still under analysis. There will also be security features where there is a need, so vehicle owners can park their cars in a secured area,” Mr Payet stated.
Presently, the Inter Island Quay parking accommodates around 100 vehicles, and the new parking facility will accommodate around 250 vehicles.
The parking facility is but one of numerous projects that the SPA is undertaking with the aim of improving the ports facilities.
The project is expected to be completed and operational by the end of the year, well ahead of the planned road extension works which will see the construction of a second traffic lane for motorists from the northern region travelling into town.
Construction works for the additional second lane are planned for early next year, and is but one of the projects expected to improve traffic congestion around the central area.
By yesterday afternoon, the inmates had already cleared a substantial part of the property and picked up a significant quantity of rubbish. Nine inmates joined staff of the SPA to carry out the works.
SPS rehabilitation officer, Jerry Bibi noted that part of the prison’s campaign is to help inmates to contribute towards their communities.
“We started today and the SPA is very satisfied. I think it even surpassed their expectations all that the inmates have done since this morning,” Mr Bibi stated.
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