Nesma Holding Company Wednesday bagged the SR795.55 million contract to execute the 12 urgent flood- and rainwater-drainage projects to prevent recurrence of the floods that wreaked havoc on the city for two consecutive years. The 12 projects are out of the 14 as suggested recently by AECOM, a consulting company. Making the announcement at a press conference here Wednesday, Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah region and Chairman of the Sub-committee on the Rainwater and Flood Drainage Project in Jeddah, said the company has been given 110 days to finish the projects. Prince Khaled underlined the commitment of King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the Crown Prince, and Second Deputy Premier, to develop undeveloped districts in Makkah and to solve the flood problem. He stressed that the work will continue round-the-clock. About the metro project in Jeddah, Prince Khaled said a study on public transportation – including monorail, buses and taxi cabs – has been completed. “Tenders for the proposed projects will be issued soon,” he said. Prince Khaled said a separate body is looking into the trial of the flood accused. “The Emirate has nothing to do with it,” he said. He said the Al-Haramain Train Project was progressing well and will be carried out on schedule. He said nine unplanned districts in Jeddah will be developed as part of the flood projects in the city, including upgrading their infrastructure. Contracting companies have been given a grace period until the end of Shawwal (August) to complete their projects. Erring contractors will be removed from the projects. Two other projects — Al-Samer and Umm Al-Khair dams— worth SR265 million have already been awarded and work on them is in the last stage. “The projects will be completed as per schedule,” said Ahmad Al-Sleem, Director General of the Jeddah Rainwater and Flood Drainage Project. Nesma Holding Company will focus on water drainage pipes at the intersection of Emir Majed and Palestine streets and address the issue of water accumulation in several locations, he said. The company will address the problem of accumulation at the intersections of King Abdullah underpass and Madina Road, King Fahd underpass and King Abdullah Road, Hail Street and King Abdullah Road, Khaled Bin Al-Waleed Street and King Abdullah Road, Al-Andalus Street and King Abdullah Road, Al-Andalus and Al-Hamra streets, Emir Majed underpass and Muhammad Bin Abdul Aziz Street, King Fahd Road and Prince Muhammad Bin Abdul Aziz Street, Amir Majed underpass and Al-Rawda Street, Emir Majed, Abdullah Al-Sulaiman and Bakhashab streets, on Sari Street underpass, and on Madina Road. Al-Sleem said the projects will be completed before the next rain season. “The consulting company will directly oversee the progress of all these projects, in addition to the projects being implemented at Al-Samer and Umm Al-Khair districts,” he added. Earlier, Prince Khaled was briefed on the outcome of the workshop to find lasting solutions for the city's flood problems. More than 25 experts from the United States and the United Kingdom participated in the workshop and suggested the construction of a new flood canal to pass through King Abdul Aziz International Airport. Meanwhile, Prince Mish'al Bin Majed Bin Abdul Aziz, Governor of Jeddah, made an inspection tour Wednesday of Umm Al-Khair and Al-Samer flood and rain water drainage projects. He was briefed on the projects by Mayor Hani Abu Ras. Prince Mish'al said once the projects are completed it would contribute in protecting the lives of the residents and their properties. He said 41 percent of the work in Al-Samer canal and 66 percent of the work in Umm Al-Khair project have been completed. Prince Khaled has also written a strong letter to Jeddah Mayoralty inquiring about the reason for the disappearance of the countdown clock from the Jeddah Corniche Project site. The letter sought an immediate response. The Emir had ordered the installation of the clock on June 6 to display the remaining number of days for completion of the project. Caption : Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah region, displays a paper listing the schedule for rain and floodwater drainage projects and their deadline in Jeddah, Wednesday.
