Mobile Money Guyana and the Demerara Habour Bridge Corporation (DHBC) joined forces today as they launched Guyana’s first-ever automated Bridge Tolling System at the Demerara Harbour Bridge.
Thousands of commuters who travel between Regions Three and Four daily will now be served with the automated system which will be more convenient and faster.
General Manager of GTT Mobile Money, Babita Ram expressed her company’s pride in being a part of such a historic event in Guyana’s transport and development sector by providing this technological solution to not just tolling but one that will help decrease traffic congestion on both sides of the Bridge.
She said that “it is indeed an honour for the MMG team to play a role in presenting what is a most convenient way to use a tolling system and enabling payments through our innovative and convenient channels. This world-class, and I do tell you it is world-class- for those of you who’ve traveled and experienced EasyPass in New York or SunPass in Florida, you will realize as you’ve used this; it is a world-class system. (It) will allow for shorter waiting times at the bridge for commenters”
She acknowledged the Ministry of Public Works and the General Manager and staff of the Demerara Harbour Bridge for their work and collaboration on the project.
The MMG official said the new system is simple and commuters should take advantage of it.
“We encourage all commuters to register for the RFID tag which is placed on the vehicle’s windscreen. Use MMG whether it is from your own MMG account or one of our agent locations to put money on your Demerara Harbor Bridge Account and then you just breeze through, basically in a matter of seconds.”
Minister of Works, Juan Edghill who welcomed the initiative, spoke extensively about other initiatives that his Ministry has employed to address the concerns of commuters.
Edghill said that “I’m happy to join this occasion to publicly launch this new initiative which is aimed at doing three things. Number one, making commute across the bridge easier. Number 2, improving financial accountability and number three, bringing us into modernization where people don’t always have to be searching their pockets and bags for money to pay.”
He said the new Demerara Bridge when will also utilize a similar system as the country moves ahead with its development.
“Well let’s get Guyanese used to this technology. Let’s get Guyanese used to this way of doing business. A new Demerara Harbor Bridge will be in place before the end of 2025. The contract will be signed shortly and construction will begin thereafter.”, he said.
Aside from the introduction of the new and improved tolling system; Edghill said other initiatives are being employed to ease the congestion at the bridge.
“In collaboration with the Guyana Police Force, we have been able to; in real-time judge, the congestion and the build-up of traffic on both the east side and on the west side and have been able to take prompt initiatives or prompt actions I should say to release that congestion and to allow for continuous flow. People are no longer waiting for hours to cross the Demerara harbor bridge in the mornings and in the afternoons.”
The new cashless tolling system can now be accessed by all drivers who traverse the bridge regularly.
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