THE first five-year plan, announced by Ashghal in 2005, is being completed and a new one will be announced soon, a senior official has said. Mohamed Ali Yousef Darwish, senior consultant (engineering), said Doha Expressway, which is part of the plan, would be completed by the end of this year. As part of its strategy to help local contractors, Darwish said, Ashghal had devised certain measures. For instance, contracts worth up to QR20mn were reserved for local companies; while those between QR100mn and 200mn should have local participation along with international companies. For projects above QR200mn, international companies were free to bid with or without local stake holders. Darwish was giving an overview of Ashghal’s project portfolio at Qatar Projects 2009, a conference on the latest projects and opportunities in the fast developing energy and non-energy sectors of the country. Talking about the progress of various projects, Darwish said the first phase of North Relief road had been completed while the second phase was currently on. Preparations were underway for the third portion, the stretch from the North Road to Zubara, from where the causeway to Bahrain would start. Similarly, the first phase of the Dukhan Highway was to be completed soon and the second and third phases would be taken up next year. Road projects underway included the Industrial Area interchange on Salwa Road, the Rayyan road flyover, many drainage and treated sewage effluent plant and surface water projects. Projects due to be taken up during the year included Salwa Road to Midmac stretch; from Midmac to A Ring Road; Abu Aboud to E Ring Road, Muntazah interchange and phase one of Lusail road. Besides, foul and ground water treatment plants at Mesiameer, sewage networks at Mesaimeer and Ain Khalid, pumping stations, extension to Doha South Treatment plant and another treatment plant at Thakhira were also planned, Darwish added. Hamad Medical City, which had to incorporate many changes as per the request of Hamad Medical Corporation, was expected to be tendered by end of March or early April, the official said. It would have a 1,000-bed hospital and other facilities. Besides, a medical tower was under construction, he added. In addition, a number of medical, educational and social facilities too were being built at various part of the country. To make undertaking works in the country attractive for contractors, Darwish said, Ashghal had initiated many steps. They included permission to import materials without any restriction; quicker payment; and release of cash reserves. Besides, steps had also been taken to control price of raw materials and facilitating availability of them by increasing capacity of plants. http://gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=267672&version=1&template_id=36&parent_id=16

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