RIYADH — Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs Prince Mansour Bin Miteb has signed 38 new municipal projects costing more than SR4 billion for Riyadh. The projects were awarded to several companies in order to implement them in stipulated period of time. A total of SR505 million has been allocated for an ambitious project to ease traffic congestion with construction of several bridges and tunnels. A number of projects were awarded for the maintenance, repair, upgrading and beautification of roads, traffic islands and intersections, public squares, bridges and tunnels in the city, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The minister signed contracts worth SR956 million to implement drainage and flood water passage projects, including the third phase of Wadi Al-Sulai flood canal project. Another SR384 million was earmarked for implementing floodwater drainage projects in Al-Molqa and Hotain districts. A contract worth SR295 million was signed to implement floodwater drainage projects in the districts of Al-Nadeem and Janadriyah while SR449 million was awarded to implement similar projects in a number of other districts. Saudi Arabia's sprawling and congested capital is in a race against time to complete its $22.5 billion metro system within four years. Construction began a year ago but has accelerated in the last few weeks, with road closures, digging equipment and hard-hatted workers taking over the city's business core
