OurOur Transportation Transportation System System is is in in Crisis Crisis – - 15028476

According to the Laws of Woodbrook Estate. At that time its known as Kumar Village, said to be , Highways length was 1.6 km. named after him. Act, Chapter 48:01, Wrightson Sometime around the period The National Institute of Higher Road is designated a Main Road. 1938-1940, the entire “sea-edge” Education, Research, Science and The other main roads in Port of was planned, Technology (NIHERST) Awards in Spain are listed as follows: designed and re-built as a dual Science and Technology seek to Churchill-Roosevelt Highway, carriageway highway by a young recognise and reward nationals for , Beetham Public Works engineer from India, outstanding achievements in science Highway, Abattoir Road, Audrey and transformed into a route and technology, to provide positive Jeffers Freeway, and Maraval connecting the east and west role models for our youth to Parkway. Technically, Wrightson communities, including the emulate, and to record our scientific Road is a four-lane divided urban immediate local roads in heritage. A new award, known as arterial road, and connects the Woodbrook, and the recently re- the Ranjit Kumar Award for Junior in the east with claimed lands its southern side. Engineer, is for persons under the Audrey Jeffers. Audrey Jeffers is Ranjit Kumar (1912-1982) was age of 35 years with exceptional not a freeway, which would have no born in the Punjab State in India, abilities and achievements. at-grade access, and should be and migrated as a young child to the Sir Wrightson was the central called simply a highway. But, I do UK. He graduated as a civil figure in the notorious water riots of not understand how Abattoir Road engineer from the Imperial College 1903 mainly because he drafted a in Sea Lots (where the Police of Science, at age 18. waterworks bill seeking to install Traffic and Highway Patrol Branch He was certainly a pioneer in water meters in homes. On March is located) can be considered a main the field of civil engineering in 23, 1903, an event precipitated by a road. TnT, particularly in constructing volatile combination of dis- Wrightson Road is 2.5 km long highways in mangrove terrain, as in enfranchised masses, water from St Vincent Street in the east to the 1940’s this project was deemed restrictions and an oppressive O’Connor Street in the west. In almost impossible. It is said that colonial government erupted. This order to maximize its function more when the Americans had decided to event led to the Red House fire. effectively as an arterial road, extend Wrightson Road eastwards, Over the years, several persons several of the local road he was hired as a consultant to work have called for the renaming of intersections in Woodbrook were on the project. Wrightson Road to the Ranjit earlier closed off with concrete The upgrade of Wrightson Road Kumar Highway. The latest in the barriers. Many of them have been has served as an important influence call is by History Professor and reopened over the years, thus in commercial and financial Senior Research Fellow, Dr. reducing the traffic capacity of development, including hotels and Brinsley Samaroo, at a recent Wrightson Road. However, some conference facilities. seminar in commemoration of the collector road intersections in the Engineer Kumar is also credited centennial birth of Ranjit Kumar, downtown area have with designing irrigation and hosted by the National Library and recently been prevented from drainage systems for flood-prone Information System Authority accessing Wrightson Road through areas of Port of Spain, Laventille (NALIS), in collaboration with the time-based turning restrictions. and El Socorro. He worked on the Kumar family. This free seminar Sir Walsh Wrightson was an Morvant Housing Project, widened was held at the University of Englishman who held the post of the Eastern Main Road and Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) Director of Public Works of the constructed footpaths. Other notable Campus at the National Academy Government from 1895 to 1907. projects include the site works for for the Performing Arts (NAPA), He was responsible for the Federation Chemicals Limited and POS, and was well-attended by construction, in 1900, of the the Hilton Hotel. several Government ministers, original Wrightson Road. He built He entered politics in 1943 diplomats and a wide cross-section this road from the western end of served in the POS City Council and of the national community. Charles Street to gain access to the Legislative Council of Trinidad Engineer Kumar’s children town’s sewerage pumping station and Tobago. have followed his sound sited at Mucurapo Point on the In 1950, Ranjit Kumar Street in professional attributes, and include Maraval River. The road followed a St. James was named in his honour. Catherine Kumar – Chief Executive path along the sea shore on the There is also a village in Gasparillo, Officer, The Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Kenneth Kumar – civil engineer, Henry Kumar – electrical engineer. What are we waiting for to change the name Wrightson Road to Ranjit Kumar Highway? It will be a significant contribution to our celebrations of the Golden Jubilee of TnT independence, as we recognise our pioneers. e-mail: [email protected]