(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Public Works Authority (Ashghal) witnessed a about 200 percent jump in the value of projects awarded during 2013-2014 compared to the previous period.
Over the last couple of years (between 2012 and 2014) Ashghal awarded projects worth QR51.3bn for the construction of civic infrastructure facilities across the country such as roads, drainage, schools, health centres and other.
During 2013-14 the civic authority awarded projects worth QR38.4bn, with a significant rise of about 198 percent compared to projects valued at QR12.9bn inked during 2012-13, according to Ashghal's Annual Report 2013-2014.
During Ashghal's calendar year 2013-14, over 88 percent of the total value of awarded projects (QR33.8bn) was dedicated to road developments. Similarly during the previous budget year (2012-13) road projects were allocated a significant 76 percent, or QR9.8bn, of the total value of (QR12.9bn) projects awarded during the period.
The report shows that the amount of money allocated for buildings during 2013-14 increased to QR4.2bn, witnessing a four fold jump from QR1.9bn allocated during the previous period (2012-13).
Whereas allocation of funds for drainage development in 2013-14 declined to QR276.5m, which is one-fourth of QR1.1bn spent on drainage projects awarded during 2012-13. The sharp fall in allocation is understandably due to the reason most of the drainage projects were already awarded during 2012-13 budget year.
Under the ambitious Expressway Programme, Ashghal has more than 32 projects in different statges. Given to the size and magnitude these projects, the authority have divided them into 46 contracts.
"In 2013-2014, the Ministry of Finance approved a budget of QR16bn for Ashghal's buildings, drainage and roads projects, which was 80 percent higher than the previous year. Ashghal spent a total of QR13bn or 84 percent of the allocated budget"for public infrastructure and buildings," said Nasser bin Ali Al Mawlawi, President of the civic authority in his message published in the report.
According to the 160 page bilingual report, 27 projects are currently underway, and contracts for another 14 with the combined value of QR20bn were signed this year for the construction works to be started by next year.
Some 12 new projects are scheduled to be starting in 2014, and the total value of construction projects that are currently progressing in different parts of the country is over QR18.2bn.
The construction and upgrade works on 11 expressways are progressing rapidly, and four projects namely Al Rayyan Road Upgrade (Q2, 2014); Al Huwaila Link Road (Q3); F Ring Road (Q4) and East Industrial Road (Q4) are scheduled to be completed this year.
Works on the iconic 'Sharq Crossing' infrastructure, one of the Qatar's most ambitious engineering projects, is estimated to be starting by 2015 and complete by 2021.
The country's most technologically advanced project comprises of three inter-connected bridges of different length ranging between 600 and 1,310 metres. These three bridges will connect to 8km of subsea tunnels. Once completed, this alternative route is expected to significantly ease traffic flow from the Corniche road, which is one of busiest roads of the country.
However, the report did not provide further details about the award of contracts and the current status of the project.
Some of the other major expressway projects under construction include East-West Corridor (22km, five lane new dual carriage way), Dukhan Highway Central (about 15km four lane dual carriage way) and Al Muntazah Street Extension (about 10km (8+2) dual carriage way).
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