By Fidelis Sukina – EMTV News, Port Moresby
A local company Womku Limited, is calling on the National Capital District to allow them to meet and express their concerns regarding the Independence BOULEVARD.
Representatives of the company came to EMTV office today (19 October, 2018) and presented their design of the Boulevard claiming it is their brainchild and want recognition from NCD for the initial concept.
The K40 million six lane Independence Boulevard in NCD is set to open soon, but a local project management company official recognition for coming up with the original design concept.
The land that the Boulevard now runs through, was part of the National Broadcasting Commission Radio transmission station, and the company had expressed interest to develop the area.
Womku Limited had initially done phase one of the project, which was an engineering and feasibility study.
It was looking to invite and had an investor for phase two of the project.
The company started its phase one on October 8 2016 and with the conclusion of the first phase the project was estimated at 2.7 to 3 billion Kina which includes the Boulevard, hotels, apartments and housing projects.
The project was delayed based on a supreme court decision that NBC didn’t have the land titles but equitable interest over the land.
The company showed their initial design of the Boulevard dated 26th October 2016, which shows the boulevard from parliament house but cuts through the NBC property meeting the Somare Circuit road at the Telikom Rumana Building en route to the Sir Manasupe Building, while the current design goes straight to Waigani Drive.
NCD took on the project under the states compulsory acquisition of land and the Chinese Company China Harbour Engineering built the Boulevard.
The company says they just want some recognition by the National Capital District Commission and meet with them to settle the issue.
The Managing Director of Womku Limited told EMTV that they are not looking to take legal action, but to sit down with NCDC and find a solution to their matter.
