Public Works Authority (Ashghal) is paying special attention to wrapping up its ongoing programmes and projects while also moving from outsourcing to relying on its own resources, especially as it has the means to effectively and efficiently deliver and maintain projects.
In this regard, Ashghal held its regular meeting to review the execution of its strategic objectives for the current year under the chairmanship of its President Dr Saad bin Ahmed bin Ibrahim al-Mohannadi with the participation of department directors.
The meeting discussed Ashghal’s achievements in the first half of the year and reviewed main performance indices as an indicator of progress made in the achievement of goals and strategic initiatives. It also touched on the main projects due to be finished in 2017.
Six strategic goals were planned for the authority during the current phase; Qatarisiation, execution of all projects according to the schedule, decreasing the costs of projects, responsiveness, development of service standards, coming up with solutions to address the negative effects of rain, and implementing the infrastructure of the residential lands of citizens according to the schedules. In order to meet these ends, all Ashghal departments accelerated work since the beginning of the year and measured the achievements regularly according to the major performance indices so as to assess the accomplishments and put executive plans for the remaining goals.
In Qatarisation, the authority managed during the first half of the year to achieve the target ratio in addition to developing Qatari staff through relevant trainings and workshops.
As for infrastructure, Ashghal accomplished 99% of its goals for the first half of the year. It finished 38 projects since the turn of the year, including 16 achievements in highway projects, six in infrastructure and drainage networks, while 23 achievements are expected before the end of the year.
The different departments delivered designs and plans that would decrease water pools resulting from rain, while the authority also delivered 500 residential land lots during the first quarter of the year at 100% of the government lands planned for citizens during the first half of the year out of 1,829 land lots expected to be delivered by the end of the year.
AlEfrangi: Well-deserved. In the highway sector, the G-Ring Road was opened at a total distance of 22km as well as Lusail Expressway, and Dukhan Highway Central.
In addition, a 37-km stretch of the Orbital Highway opened to traffic besides the first phase of Al Rayyan Road, Onazia Tunnel on Lusail Expressway and the road connecting Mesaieed to Salwa Road.
As for street projects and area infrastructure, Ashghal is working on 23 projects of local streets and infrastructure. Four of these projects are finished; Thumaid, Rawdat Ekdeem, Rawdat Rashed Umm Qarn, and drainage networks in Muaither.
Through these projects, the authority has saved up to QR208mn out of QR350mn during the first quarter of the year. It also plans to establish and develop a number of projects during the remaining months of the year such as 339km of roads, road and infrastructure projects that serve nearly 15,000 residents, 108 residential lots in northern and eastern Al Kheesa that aim to serve 736 lots, the lifting station project in northwestern Doha, which aims to serve 2962 lots, and New Salata project that would serve 628 lots.
One of the major local road projects that is set to conclude by the end of the year is the road and infrastructure project in western Al Wakrah, Rawdat Abal Heeran, western Al Mashaf, A Khor commercial street, and road and infrastructure works in northern areas.
As for sewage projects, Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has successfully completed the work of the surface and groundwater sewage tunnel in the area of Abu Hamour, in addition to the development of the small water treatment plant in Al Shamal and the Al Dhakhira. An estimated QR25mn of projects’ costs were provided during the first quarter of this year, and several initiatives, to reduce costs during the third quarter, were further assessed and evaluated.
Ashghal is seeking to solve the problem of 173 areas with high rate rainwater collection before the end of 2017 as part of the Authority’s preparations for the rain season. In addition the work of sewage treatment in North Doha is underway as well as the designing and construction of a number of water treatment projects in different parts of the country.
Regarding the work of Public Works Authority “Ashghal” in the operation and maintenance of roads and drainage networks, 100% of the maintenance plan established for 2017 is underway. In addition, the competent  departments have completed the development of appropriate plans to reduce the negative impact of rain, after Ashghal’s success in the proactive response in dealing with the rain season at the beginning of this year.
Ashghal has re-paved all roads set out in the plan for the first six months of this year and has been attending to all comments and reports received from the public in addition to the continuation of installing  road lights, marks and signs to ensure road safety. Ashghal has also carried out pre-emptive maintenance of some roads, along with completing 30% of the work of cleaning and maintenance of sewerage networks and drainage pipes by (110km length of sewerage networks and more than 100,000 drainage holes) according to the timetables set for these works.
It is also working on the completion of plans to reduce water pools resulting from rain to be ready by the end of August 2017, in conjunction with periodic tests in the second quarter of the year on those plans and means to implement them in co-operation with the concerned partners.
As for the most important and latest construction projects established by the Authority, eight projects have been completed by the second quarter of the year according to the time table. The designs for five other projects is to be completed during the third and fourth quarters of the year.
The Department of Buildings has completed six projects so far, while working to establish 8 other projects, scheduled to be completed by the end of 2017, with plans to reduce costs and expenses by 5%.
With regard to buildings design, 18 projects were completed, including 5 health centres in different areas, schools and the reconstruction of Umm Salal Municipality building. Some 33 new construction sites are being designed. During the first half of the year, six projects, including 3 schools, 14 mosques and imams’ homes, have been delivered following the cost reduction model in educational buildings projects.
The Authority is currently focusing on to completing 9 schools, 8 mosques and imams’ homes, as well as 4 health centres and surgery building in Hamad General Hospital in addition to the renovation the General Post Office before the end of this year.


Six strategic goals
* Qatarisation
* Execution of all projects according to the schedule
* Decreasing the costs of projects
* Responsiveness
* Development of service standards and coming up with solutions to address the negative effects of rain
* Implementing the infrastructure of the residential lands of citizens according to the schedules
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