The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) successfully overcame several challenges while implementing the projects. “The implementation of roads and infrastructure projects in existing residential areas requires a different process compared to the implementation of main roads and highways. The internal road works are located in densely populated residential neighbourhoods and close to citizens' homes, and sometimes in areas with high traffic,” an official statement noted.
“One of the main challenges are narrow internal roads. This requires working in phases on the road and implementing multiple traffic diversions while providing entrances for residents and safe lanes for pedestrians. Extending infrastructure lines in these areas also requires excavations of up to 15m below the road surface. With the rocky nature of most areas, the necessary excavation works can only be carried out at limited times of the day in order to avoid excessive disturbance to the residents.
"Most of these works are carried out by micro tunnelling technique using the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) under the surface of the earth to implement deep excavations. Residents may not notice that there are ongoing works behind barriers, but works are actually being implemented several metres below the surface,” the statement noted.
Another challenge is the high level of groundwater due to sewage water leakage from houses, which must be resolved before implementing the necessary infrastructure, with continuous pumping and draining of water during implementation. Moreover, requests from service entities that provide residential areas with telecommunication networks, electricity, water and other services are taken into consideration within the local roads projects. This requires direct co-ordination with all service entities in the country and with residents for home connections.
"It's also important to protect existing under-ground services in residential areas while implementing any excavations, in order to ensure that they are not affected and there is continuity of work so as not to affect the residents.
* Roles of enhanced contracts in overcoming challenges
To implement the projects, Ashghal has signed several memorandums of understanding (MoU) with various service and governmental entities. These are to enhance co-operation between all parties and benefit from resources and expertise in many areas, in the interest of the public and citizens.
Since 2019, Ashghal has launched a package of contractual enhancements for infrastructure projects in citizens' subdivisions and existing areas with the aim of streamlining the implementation of works and reducing their impact on the daily life of residents, while achieving quick responses to their demands and suggestions.
One of these contractual enhancements is dividing the work of each road and infrastructure project into several geographical areas (zoning), in order to minimise the negative effects of construction works instead of carrying out works in all of the project area simultaneously.
In addition, enhanced contracts include improving the general appearance of the project site, early preparation of the site as well as applying Lean Construction principles which contributes to overcoming many challenges facing the projects.
Collaborative planning sessions are held to identify and deal with potential challenges. These sessions take place in the Project Performance Monitoring Centre which is also one of the new procedures included in the enhanced contracts for citizens' subdivisions. This centre monitors the project's performance across all areas to deal with any challenges or problems.
The enhanced contracts have resulted in tangible improvements represented in the ability to set more accurate timetables for completing works, enhancing the workers’ health and safety, and increasing the pace of work.
Besides, Ashghal monitors the contractors’ performance across all implementation areas, including sustainability and environment, health and safety, public relations, and co-ordination with concerned authorities, using key performance indicators (KPI) system. Ashghal deducts part of the contractor’s payments in case of default in any of these areas.
An example of the challenges, encountered through the Project Performance Monitoring Centre in Al Khuraitiyat and Izghawa project (Package 3) implemented by Ashghal, is the duration required to supply some materials such as deep well lining materials. The project team developed an alternative lining design based on flexible steel (mild steel) instead of stainless steel. Thus, the delivery time became significantly shorter. The project team was also able to find a solution to groundwater dewatering by constructing a temporary lagoon, which resulted in starting the project works on time, in addition to cost saving.
* Enhancing communication with residents
Enhanced contracts include the appointment of public relations officers who are Qataris or born in Qatar, in order to co-ordinate with the residents regarding any works that may affect their daily lives, such as traffic diversion, drainage connections, etc. This is in addition to daily communication with residents to inform them of project progress and the services it provides, and responding to there comments, requests or suggestions.
Besides posters are distributed to all houses in the project area. These posters contain information on the project and contact numbers to communicate directly with public relations officers for any inquiries or requests. It is worth noting that Ashghal takes into account all residents' comments to benefit from these in improving the implementation of works and mitigating the effects of the project.
Enhanced contracts also include establishing a system of key performance indicators to evaluate contractors’ performance in terms of responding to and communicating with residents. This also motivates contractors to implement community initiatives. For example, some of the Ashghal contractors help residents move trees to a different location while assigning workers to take care of the trees until the work is completed, then return the trees to there original location in line with the new designs.
In order to ensure the residents’ satisfaction with contractors’ performance, Ashghal has assigned an electronic questionnaire for citizens' subdivisions and existing areas, whereby residents can evaluate contractors’ performance on a quarterly basis.
Within the KPI system, part of the contractor’s payments are put on hold, and these are not paid to him except in the case of satisfaction of the residents in the area. This confirms the keenness of Ashghal to achieve its mission of delivering a world-class infrastructure while achieving customer satisfaction.
"Ashghal understands the inconvenience caused by construction works in residential areas, and we thank you for your co-operation. We assure you that we are exerting efforts to complete infrastructure development projects for 'citizens' subdivisions as quickly as possible and with the highest quality," the statement added.
"Most of these works are carried out by micro tunnelling technique using the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) under the surface of the earth to implement deep excavations. Residents may not notice that there are ongoing works behind barriers, but works are actually being implemented several metres below the surface,” the statement noted.
Another challenge is the high level of groundwater due to sewage water leakage from houses, which must be resolved before implementing the necessary infrastructure, with continuous pumping and draining of water during implementation. Moreover, requests from service entities that provide residential areas with telecommunication networks, electricity, water and other services are taken into consideration within the local roads projects. This requires direct co-ordination with all service entities in the country and with residents for home connections.
"It's also important to protect existing under-ground services in residential areas while implementing any excavations, in order to ensure that they are not affected and there is continuity of work so as not to affect the residents.
* Roles of enhanced contracts in overcoming challenges
To implement the projects, Ashghal has signed several memorandums of understanding (MoU) with various service and governmental entities. These are to enhance co-operation between all parties and benefit from resources and expertise in many areas, in the interest of the public and citizens.
Since 2019, Ashghal has launched a package of contractual enhancements for infrastructure projects in citizens' subdivisions and existing areas with the aim of streamlining the implementation of works and reducing their impact on the daily life of residents, while achieving quick responses to their demands and suggestions.
One of these contractual enhancements is dividing the work of each road and infrastructure project into several geographical areas (zoning), in order to minimise the negative effects of construction works instead of carrying out works in all of the project area simultaneously.
In addition, enhanced contracts include improving the general appearance of the project site, early preparation of the site as well as applying Lean Construction principles which contributes to overcoming many challenges facing the projects.
Collaborative planning sessions are held to identify and deal with potential challenges. These sessions take place in the Project Performance Monitoring Centre which is also one of the new procedures included in the enhanced contracts for citizens' subdivisions. This centre monitors the project's performance across all areas to deal with any challenges or problems.
The enhanced contracts have resulted in tangible improvements represented in the ability to set more accurate timetables for completing works, enhancing the workers’ health and safety, and increasing the pace of work.
Besides, Ashghal monitors the contractors’ performance across all implementation areas, including sustainability and environment, health and safety, public relations, and co-ordination with concerned authorities, using key performance indicators (KPI) system. Ashghal deducts part of the contractor’s payments in case of default in any of these areas.
An example of the challenges, encountered through the Project Performance Monitoring Centre in Al Khuraitiyat and Izghawa project (Package 3) implemented by Ashghal, is the duration required to supply some materials such as deep well lining materials. The project team developed an alternative lining design based on flexible steel (mild steel) instead of stainless steel. Thus, the delivery time became significantly shorter. The project team was also able to find a solution to groundwater dewatering by constructing a temporary lagoon, which resulted in starting the project works on time, in addition to cost saving.
* Enhancing communication with residents
Enhanced contracts include the appointment of public relations officers who are Qataris or born in Qatar, in order to co-ordinate with the residents regarding any works that may affect their daily lives, such as traffic diversion, drainage connections, etc. This is in addition to daily communication with residents to inform them of project progress and the services it provides, and responding to there comments, requests or suggestions.
Besides posters are distributed to all houses in the project area. These posters contain information on the project and contact numbers to communicate directly with public relations officers for any inquiries or requests. It is worth noting that Ashghal takes into account all residents' comments to benefit from these in improving the implementation of works and mitigating the effects of the project.
Enhanced contracts also include establishing a system of key performance indicators to evaluate contractors’ performance in terms of responding to and communicating with residents. This also motivates contractors to implement community initiatives. For example, some of the Ashghal contractors help residents move trees to a different location while assigning workers to take care of the trees until the work is completed, then return the trees to there original location in line with the new designs.
In order to ensure the residents’ satisfaction with contractors’ performance, Ashghal has assigned an electronic questionnaire for citizens' subdivisions and existing areas, whereby residents can evaluate contractors’ performance on a quarterly basis.
Within the KPI system, part of the contractor’s payments are put on hold, and these are not paid to him except in the case of satisfaction of the residents in the area. This confirms the keenness of Ashghal to achieve its mission of delivering a world-class infrastructure while achieving customer satisfaction.
"Ashghal understands the inconvenience caused by construction works in residential areas, and we thank you for your co-operation. We assure you that we are exerting efforts to complete infrastructure development projects for 'citizens' subdivisions as quickly as possible and with the highest quality," the statement added.
