QR45bn to be spent on roads

Web posted at: 2/28/2010 7:4:17Source

::: THE PENINSULA DOHA: The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has announced that it will launch projects worthQR70bn in the next five to eight years. While QR45bn would be spent on road projects, QR25bn has been set aside for major sewage projects. Ashghal would launch 22 major road projects during the period, revealed Nasser Al Mowlawi, Acting General Manager, Ashghal. "The projects are being envisaged to meet the demands of the country's future growth as visualised by the General Secretariat for Development Planning. Once these projects are completed, Qatar will have world-class roads and sewage networks", he said. Mowlawi said the Emir, H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Heir Apparent, H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani, were closely monitoring the progress of the project works. "Top Ashghal officials visited the Heir Apparent and the prime minister on separate dates and briefed them on the major proposed projects of Ashghal", Mowlawi said. A detailed presentation of the projects was made before the Heir Apparent on February 24, 2010. Ashghal officials also explained future projects to the prime minister on February 2, 2010. The officials also briefed him about the details of the tendering process, Mowlawi said. Local companies are free to bid for contracts in the proposed projects. Mowlawi said Ashghal would launch three major road projects in the coming month. The first project (Project VII) would cover the design of Rayyan Street, Khalifa Street and Al Busthan Street. The second project (Project VIII) is related to the designing of E-Ring Road and the Central Market roads. The third project (Project IX) will cover the designing of Al Farussia, Hewar and Al Khafji streets. The tenders for these projects were floated in October 2009.Ashghal has also signed agreements with some internationally reputed companies for maintaining its key arterial roads. Ashghal's "Smart Transportation System" to monitor and control the traffic on busy streets, is expected to be launched by the end of this year. The project, scheduled to be implemented in a phased manner, would be completed in three to five years, Mowlawi said. "Once this system is in place, motorists can commute between Al Khor and the New Doha International Airport within 35 minutes", he said. Local firms to get big slice of railway projectWeb posted at: 2/28/2010 7:3:3Source ::: THE PENINSULA/ By MOHAMED SAEEDDOHA: Local contracting companies would be awarded major works in the proposed multi-billion dollar rail project, some 70 to 80 percent of which will comprise construction work.The proposed railroad network is planned to operate on four major routes that would link various areas of the country to one another, according to an official. Dr Hassan Al Fudallah, Vice-CEO of Qatari Diar, was talking to Qatar News Agency about the three mega railway projects (the metro network within Greater Doha, the over-ground railways covering entire Qatar and eventually linking it to the rest of the GCC region, and cargo trains). The metro network will have four routes - a Red Route, Green Route, Yellow Route and Blue Route. The Red Route will start from Mesaieed, cross Al Wakra, the New Doha International Airport, downtown Doha and Lusail, and reach Al Khor and Al Shamal. The Green and Yellow routes will link the eastern part of Doha to its west. The Blue Route is designed to run along C-Ring Road, said Al Fudallah. Work on the QR133.5bn railway project will begin only when the ongoing comprehensive preliminary studies are completed. The metro rail project will cover a total distance of 354km and the trains will run at speeds of 80 to 160km per hour. The ground rail network will cover a total distance of 345km and traverse the entire country and passenger electric trains will be running at between 220 and 350km per hour. The projects are to be completed in phases between 2010 and 2016 and will take into consideration Qatar's bid to host the football World Cup in 2022. This network will be linked to the GCC railways by 2017. Cargo trains covering major economic centres in Qatar will be running at 120km per hour. Explaining the benefits of the mega transportation project, Al Fudallah said the project will provide the country with sophisticated transportation system and hence support Qatar's plan to achieve sustainable development.Besides the economical and social benefits, the project will also will have a positive environmental impact as it will cut fuel consumption by cars. As 70 to 80 percent of the project will comprise construction work, it is believed the project will give a boost to local contracting companies.