The Suriname Road Authority is preparing to kick off a large-scale rehabilitation program for key primary road networks across three key regions of the country: Greater Paramaribo, Nickerie, and Para. The ambitious infrastructure initiative has been allocated a total budget of 125 million Surinamese dollars, marking one of the most significant public works investments in the country’s road sector in recent years.
Three local contracting firms have been selected to carry out the construction and maintenance work, with each assigned responsibility for a specific district. Baitali Group will lead projects in Nickerie, Caremco Holding NV will handle upgrades across Greater Paramaribo, and I-Roads NV will oversee works in Para. The public tender process for the program was completed back in February, and all formal construction contracts have already been finalized and signed by all involved parties, clearing the way for work to begin.
According to Ridgeley Kasantirto, Director of the Suriname Road Authority, the comprehensive maintenance work has become an urgent necessity. Years of heavy use have left large sections of the country’s primary road network suffering from severe deterioration, including widespread road subsidence and persistent rutting that creates major safety hazards for motorists and slows traffic flow. Kasantirto confirmed that all roads selected for inclusion in the program were identified based on rigorous technical assessments of their current condition, and independent third-party consultants will be on-site throughout the project to monitor construction quality and ensure full compliance with project specifications. This oversight is designed to deliver a long-lasting, high-quality upgrade that avoids the need for premature repeated repairs.
The Suriname Road Authority, which manages approximately 890 kilometers of the country’s primary road infrastructure, anticipates that on-site construction work will get underway within the next three to four weeks. Once completed, the overhaul program is expected to deliver widespread benefits: it will drastically improve overall road safety, cut down on travel time by smoothing traffic flow, and create the more reliable transport infrastructure needed to support long-term regional economic development across the three districts.