Qatar's public works authority Ashghal is set to spend QR21.8 billion ($5.94 billion) on infrastructure  development projects during 2018, including expressways and local roads projects besides sewage treatment plants and assets projects.

Ashghal will soon start implementing 19 infrastructure projects in 12 areas, to serve 15,108 land plots, of which 1,800 plots are for new citizens’ sub-divisions.

Under its new plan, Ashghal will also complete 11 infrastructure projects in 11 areas, to serve 5,644 land plots, including 837 for new citizens’ sub-divisions.

"We completed in 2017 more than what was achieved during the previous four years (2013-2016) in all sectors in Ashghal and that more than 60 per cent of what was achieved in 2017 was carried out after last June," remarked its president Dr Saad bin Ahmad Al Muhannadi.

This year, the plan is to complete expressway projects worth QR11.08 billion, infrastructure and local roads projects worth QR8.88 billion and QR1.84 billion sewage treatment projects in time for the World Cup 2022, stated the Ashghal chief while discussing the authority’s plan for infrastructure and public buildings projects in 2018.

Around 90 per cent of projects related to the World Cup will be completed this year, he added.

Ashghal will start implementing 17 road projects, including Al Furousiya Street, A-Ring Road, B-Ring Road, Wholesale Market Street, Al Maadeed Street, Al Khufoos Street, Umm Al Doom Street, Muaither Street and Al Shafi street. The plan will also include turning roundabouts to signalised junctions.

"In terms of the expressway projects, we will complete 113 km long of new highways in 2018, involving 20 interchanges, 210 km long cycling and foot paths, and would also kick off a new major expressway project to decongest traffic on 22 February Road," said Dr Al Muhannadi.

“Four new projects dedicated for pumping stations, sewage treatment and Al Karaana wastewater landfill reclamation and rehabilitation will go ahead in 2018, along with the completion of other three projects,” he added.-TradeArabia News Service