The Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ announced completion of services for 3,767 land plots within the citizens’ subdivisions projects of the Local Areas Infrastructure Programme implemented by Ashghal in various areas in the North, West and South of Qatar.
Northern areas projects include package 2 of Al Kharaitiyat and Izghawa project, packages 1 and 5 of Al Ebb and Leabaib project, package 1 of Semaisma West and South project, and package 1 of Al Egda, Al Haidan and Al Khor project. As for the Western areas, projects include package 2 of North of Qatar Mall and the Celebrations Road project, and packages 2 and 3 of West Muaither (Al Manaseer). In the Southern areas, the served land plots are located within packages 1, 3 and 7 of Al Mashaf South project.
On this occasion, Eng. Youssef Al Emadi, Projects Affairs Director at Ashghal, stated that Ashghal pays special attention to roads and infrastructure development projects in existing and new citizens’ subdivisions, in an aim to provide an integrated and developed internal roads network that connects between streets and main roads, in addition to providing infrastructure services to allow citizens to build their houses in new areas, and providing developed and highly efficient services in existing areas.
Eng. Saoud Al-Tamimi, Manager of the Roads Projects Department clarified that the completed phases serve a total of 3,767 plots, and they are part of projects that will serve a total of 8,821 plots upon completion of all phases. He added these projects will provide efficient and safe roads networks with a length of about 247 km, in addition to 176 km of drainage networks, 108 km of TSE networks, 233 km of surface and groundwater drainage networks. This is in addition to electricity and lighting lines and the facilitates related to these services, as well as pedestrian and cycling paths and car parking.
Eng. Saoud Al Tamimi noted that Ashghal continues to work at the same pace and with the same commitment in implementing all infrastructure projects and in accordance with the highest specifications and quality standards. He added: “Over the past five years, around 26,000 land plots have been served for citizens' lands in new and existing areas, along with the completion and delivery of works that serve the World Cup 2022 hosted by Qatar within a few days.”
Mr. Jaber bin Muhammad Saif Al-Suwaidi, Member of the Central Municipal Council - Area 20, said that the works implemented by Ashghal in Al Mashaf South, as well as the six packages that are currently being implemented, will serve more than 3,200 plots and will provide citizens with the roads and infrastructure services that allow them to build their houses, including traffic safety elements and drainage and water networks, among others.
For his part, Mr. Abdullah bin Khalid Al Yafei, Member of the Central Municipal Council - Area 17, said: "I am delighted to be with the Public Works Authority today at this event to announce the completion of more than 3,700 plots, 652 of which are located in Area 17 (Al-Kharaitiyat), where the roads network, sewage networks, TSE networks and other services were developed."
Eng. Fahad Al-Otaibi, Head of Western Areas Section said that Ashghal has served a total of 1052 plots in Western areas, including 311 plots in West Muaither (Al Manaseer), and 741 plots in North of Qatar Mall and the Celebrations Road, as these areas have been provided with an internal roads network, sewage and drainage lines, in addition to pedestrian and cycling paths, and car parking.
Eng. Ahmed Al-Obaidly, Head of Southern Areas Section said that a total of 994 plots have been served for citizens’ land plots in the Southern areas, that are mainly concentrated in Al Meshaf South within different packages, to provide connectivity to the area through construction of roads and infrastructure services in the area.
As for the Northern Areas, Eng. Hamad Al-Bader, Manager of Northern Areas Projects in the Roads Projects Department said that the authority has served a total of 1721 plots in Northern areas, including 652 plots in Al Kharaitiyat and Izghawa, 688 plots in Al Ebb and Leabaib, 169 plots in Semaisma, 212 plots in Al Egda, Al Haidan, and Al Khor. Works included the development of internal roads and infrastructure services, provision of car parking and pedestrian and cycling paths, in addition to the development of drainage networks services. These works come as part of Ashghal’s plan to serve citizens’ land plots and meet the needs of the population and urban expansion across the country.
Al Ebb and Leabaib Projects
As for works implemented by Ashghal in Al Ebb and Leabaib area, Eng. Hamad Al-Bader, Manager of Al Ebb and Leabaib Projects at Ashghal’s Roads Projects Department said that works are underway to implement five packages of the project to serve about 4,890 residential plots, which will provide an integrated roads network, and developed infrastructure services such as drainage, surface, groundwater and stormwater drainage networks and TSE networks.
As for Semaisma West and South areas projects, Eng. Hamad clarified that Ashghal is implementing two packages in the area that serve about 1004 plots for and provide an internal roads network, drainage networks, TSE networks, surface and groundwater drainage networks, as well pedestrian and cycling paths.
Al Kharaitiyat and Izghawa Projects
Regarding projects implemented by Ashghal in Al Kharaitiyat and Izghawa, Eng. Abdulla Al-Naemi, Manager of Al Kharaitiyat and Izghawa Projects at Ashghal’s Roads Projects Department said that four packages of the project are being implemented to meet the needs of the area residents, noting that the four packages serve about 5197 residential plots. They will provide an integrated roads network with traffic safety elements such as lightning systems and poles, pedestrian and cycling paths, directional and road signs, and car parking. Infrastructure services will be developed such as surface and groundwater drainage networks, drainage networks, and TSE network.
Al Egda, Al Haidan and Al Khor Projects
Eng. Saeed Abdulrahman Al-Malki, Project Engineer in the Northern Areas Section stated that the project serves 718 plots and aims to develop the internal roads and provide pedestrian paths, in addition to development of infrastructure services such as sewage and stormwater drainage networks, among other services.
North of Qatar Mall and Celebrations Road Area Projects
Eng. Khaled Al-Quraishi, Project Engineer in the Western Areas Section said that through the second package of the Roads and Infrastructure Development Project in the North of Qatar Mall and the Celebrations Road, a total of 741 plots were served with integrated infrastructure that provides advanced services and an internal streets network to enhance traffic flow and provide connectivity with public facilities in the area.
Muaither West Projects (Al Manaseer)
Eng. Mohammed Al Ateeq, Project Engineer, pointed out that the first package of the Muaither West Infrastructure Project has been completed in 2018, which served 1,370 plots providing various services including roads, drainage, stormwater drainage and other vital services to the residents of the area. Currently, packages 1 and 3 of the project are underway to serve, along with package 1, a total of 3,070 plots.
Al Mashaf South Projects
Eng. Hamad Al Mejaba, Project Engineer in the Southern Areas Section, clarified that the Roads and Infrastructure Project for Citizens’ Subdivisions in Al Mashaf South is being implemented under six packages which are, packages 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9. He added that all packages combined will serve 3,262 land plots once completed.
Challenges
It is worth mentioning that the implementation of roads and infrastructure projects in existing residential areas requires a different process compared to implementation of main roads and highways. The internal road works are located in densely populated residential neighborhoods and close to citizens' homes, and sometimes in areas with high traffic.
One of the main challenges that faces the implementation of infrastructure on internal roads is the narrowness of the road. This challenge requires the working in phases within the road, and then implementing multiple traffic diversions, while providing entrances for the residents and safe lanes for pedestrians.
Extending infrastructure lines in these areas also requires excavations of up to 5 metres below the road surface. With the rocky nature of most areas, the necessary excavation works can only be carried out in limited times of the day in order to avoid excessive disturbance to the residents. Whereas in main roads, excavation works are carried out at depths of more than 30 metres below the ground. Most of these works are carried out by microtunneling technique using the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) under the surface of the earth to implement these deep excavations. Residents may not notice that there are ongoing works behind barriers, but works are actually being implemented several metres below the surface.
One of the challenges is the high level of groundwater due to sewage water leakage from houses, which must be resolved before implementing the necessary infrastructure, with the continuity of pumping and draining water during implementation.
Moreover, the 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 coordination with all service entities in the country and with residents for home connections.
It is also important to protect the existing under-ground services in residential areas while implementing any excavations, in order to ensure that they are not affected and their continuity of work so as not to affect the residents.
Roles of Enhanced Contracts in Overcoming Challenges
To facilitate implementation of projects, Ashghal has signed several memoranda of understanding with various service and governmental entities to enhance cooperation between all parties and benefit from resources and expertise in many areas, in the interest of the public and citizens.
Since 2018, 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 roads and infrastructure project into several geographical areas (zoning), in order minimize the negative effects of construction works, instead of carrying out works in all of the project area simultaneously, which increases the period of local road projects.
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 Center, which is also one of the new procedures included in the enhanced contracts for citizens' subdivisions. This center 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 works. In addition to that, Ashghal monitors the contractors’ performance across all implementation areas, including sustainability and environment, health and safety, public relations, and coordination with concerned authorities, using key performance indicators (KPI) system, upon which Ashghal will deduct part of the contractor’s payments in case of default in any of these areas.
Enhancing Communication with Residents
Enhanced contracts include the appointment of public relations officers who are Qataris or born in Qatar, in order to coordinate with the residents regarding any works that may affect their daily lives, such as traffic diversion, drainage connections, etc. This is in addition to the daily communication with residents to inform them of project progress and the services it provides, and responding to their comments, requests or suggestions.
This is in addition to distributing posters to all houses in the project area, which include information about 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 them 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 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 their 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 are not paid to him except in the case of achieving the 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.
The Public Works Authority understands the inconvenience caused by construction works in residential areas, and we thank you for your cooperation. 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.