KUWAIT CITY, March 21, (Agencies): The Ministry of Public Works was allotted a sum of KD 3.129 billion in the state’s development plan covering the years 2009-2013, Minister Fadhel Safar said on Sunday.
The minister told KUNA the sums were KD 371 million for 2009/2010, another KD 508.979 million for 2010/2011, KD 861.826 million for 2011/2012, and KD 1. 397 billion for 2012/2013.
Safar said the ministry is to execute many vital projects which include a phase of a revamp of the sanitary sewage system due to be completed in 2030. He pointed out the private sector is an important local partner in projects in all areas, and pointed out the ministry is already initiating many of the projects.
Three top ongoing projects, the minister noted, are Sheikh Jaber Hospital project, Boubyan Port project, and Jaber Bridge project. The first project is in execution stage, the second is in selection of executing body stage, while the last is in the tender offering stage, he said.

The minister noted that lengthy document processing procedures and red-tape account for much of the delay in execution of the state’s projects and the delays on the part of contractors in execution also hamper progress.
On the ministry’s main objectives, the minister said these are topped by hiking staff qualifications and performance, as well as benefiting and learning from international expertise to improve performance and speed up execution of tasks.
The “smart building” concept is also a main theme in current and future plans, he stressed, as well as employment of the latest methods and technologies to conserve energy and to utilize solar power in state projects.

Meanwhile, the Assistant Undersecretary for Road Engineering at the Ministry of Public Works Hussein Al-Mansour disclosed the department has compiled the list of roads which will be upgraded, while constructing new ones, reports Al-Seyassah daily.
Al-Mansour cited Sabiyya Road, which was constructed as a highway with additional intersections after long years of being a desert, and new roads such as the Eighth Ring Road. He said the ministry will upgrade some regional roads, including Salmi and Abdali Roads.
He stated certain new regional routes will surface, in addition to the construction of 180 km road at the southern part of the regional route and another 160 km road at the northern part from Sabiyya to Abdali. He assured the ministry will not call off the Eighth Ring Road project, whereas the Public Works Minister will next week hold talks with his counterpart at the Oil Ministry to conclude the issue.
He promised they will find a reasonable solution to the problem, and identified the public structures which could be eradicated by the transfer of services during the execution of projects, and other private property which should be demolished ahead of the project’s execution.