HE the President of the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) Dr Eng. Saad bin Ahmed al-Mohannadi emphasised the determination and eagerness of the Authority to succeed and provide the best for Qatar, noting that the “Qatar Deserves the Best” slogan is a goal the Authority seeks to achieve every day.
In a statement to Qatar News Agency on the occasion of Qatar National Day, the President of Ashghal extended his congratulations to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, His Highness the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, the government and the people of Qatar, pointing out that the Authority’s vision is about a better and promising future for Qatar, which it seeks to achieve with firmness, cohesion and strong will.
He said that the National Day is not only a national occasion celebrated by every citizen and resident, it is also a renewal of the ancient heritage and history and a celebration of the progress and development, which the country achieved at all levels out of a desire for socio-economic, industrial, health, educational and technological development, and the determination to lay foundations of the modern state while confronting all challenges, contributing to the implementation of infrastructure projects and achieving sustainable development.
HE the President of Ashghal pointed out that the Authority faced the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic in 2020 with great attention to all health and safety precautionary measures that enable it to carry out the work while preserving the safety and security of workers and engineers at various work sites, highlighting constructive co-operation with the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management and all concerned authorities in the country in this regard, including co-operation with the Ministry of Public Health to establish a field quarantine location that includes a hospital and mobile clinics.
Regarding the most prominent achievements of the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) in the year 2020, Saad bin Ahmed al-Mohannadi explained that Ashghal has implemented a number of highway and local projects and infrastructure works in many areas, while the operation and maintenance of road and drainage networks continues.
He added that by the end of 2020, Ashghal will complete the implementation of 828km of highways, the development of 203km of roads and the provision of infrastructure for 3399 existing and new land plots across the country.
The Authority has also won two Guinness World Records titles for the longest continuous cycling path and longest continuous bit of paved asphalt.
He stated that the highway projects made a number of accomplishments from January to September 2020, including the opening of most parts of the Mesaimeer, Al Duhail and Al Waab intersections on Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor and Al Daayen, and the intersection of Al Khor Road with North Lusail as well as the development of a number of roads including Al Wakrah main road, Al-Khufoos Street and BuHamour Bridge on the Sabah Al-Ahmad Corridor, in addition to developing the network of roads linking with the 28km Al Khor Road, Olympic Cycling Track, Fourth Ring Road and the first phase of Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor.
Regarding developing the infrastructure of the areas, the Ashghal president explained that the roads leading to Al Rayyan Stadium and the roads surrounding Al Bayt Stadium have been developed.
Additionally, the construction of a main tunnel for the sewage network that will serve eight northern districts with a length of 17.2km have been completed.
The Authority also opened two streets and completed the infrastructure works in Rawdat Aba Al-Heran, finished car and bus stops to serve a number of retail stations such as Al Qassar, Education City and Al Wakrah stations, completed parking lots for Al Rayyan Stadium and opened a number of roads to serve gas stations in different regions of the country, in addition to completing roads connecting and surrounding the Al Wakrah Central Market.
He added that Ashghal started implementing during 2020 a number of new projects within the infrastructure development programme, including the Roads and Infrastructure Project in South of Al-Meshaf (Package 7) that serves 1,389 plots for citizens’ lands, Al Kharaitiyat and Izghawa (Package 2) that serves 1,386 plots, Al Ebb and Leabaib (Package 4) that serves 1049 plots, West Semaisma (Package 1) that serves 539 plots and Al-Okda, Al-Haidan and Al Khor (Package 1) that serves 738 plots.
These projects aim to establish an integrated infrastructure that provides advanced services and internal streets that will enhance traffic flow and provide connectivity with the main road network and existing and future public facilities in these areas.
Last July, Ashghal signed nine new contracts for infrastructure projects for citizens’ lands, worth QR3.6bn, to serve 5111 housing plots in different areas around the country includes Umm Salal Muhammad, South Al-Meshaf, Al Ebb, Leabaib, Mebaireek,, East Al Wajba, and South Semaisma.
Regarding local road development projects, the Ashghal president said the Authority has completed the development of Al Rufaa Intersection upgrade works (known as Sana Intersection) and some roads leading to Al Sailiya Market, in addition to road works and infrastructure for integrated workers housing complexes in West Umm Salal and Umm Ghuwailina, and the opening of Al Nasr and Al Merqab Streets and four other intersections as part of the Development of the main streets in Al Nasr project as well as the completion of the implementations of the roads surrounding Umm Al-Gawashen petrol station, which is located on the intersection of Al Majd Road with Dukhan Road and Al Muaither and Al Annabi Street.
With regard to the projects of the Supervisory Committee of the Beautification of Roads and Public Places in the State, he affirmed the start of works of the Ras Bu Abboud Beach development project (Package One), the establishment of Al-Daayen Park, the completion of the main works of 5/6 Park project in Onaiza, and the commencement of the second and third package projects of the development and beautification projects in central Doha, which includes the development of 6 main areas.
He noted that Ashghal, after completing its projects in the various regions in the country, continues the necessary operations and maintenance throughout the year according to an approved programme and plans.
He added that Ashghal completed, until the end of July 2020, enhancing traffic safety on the roads surrounding 465 schools across the country, which is 88% of the total number of schools included in the programme to enhance traffic safety in the areas surrounding the schools.
Work is underway to complete the implementation of safety plans around the remaining schools.
Saad bin Ahmed al-Mohannadi revealed the conclusion of the first phase of the sewage water odour control programme to provide healthy and safe environment for the Qatari community and prepare for the rainy season through implementing a maintenance plan for the rain drainage network and increasing the number of water withdrawal tanks and mobile pumps to withdraw water.
Additionally, Ashghal identified potential points for rainwater collection in all areas and provided the necessary equipment and mechanisms before the start of the rains to ensure readiness and accelerate the response to withdraw water accumulating in various locations.
He pointed out that Ashghal’s efforts culminated in winning a number of local and international awards, including the Government Sustainability Initiative Award presented by the Qatar Green Building Council as well as two International Safety Awards with a Merit from the British Safety Council.
HE the President of the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) Dr Eng. Saad bin Ahmed al-Mohannadi.
