Author : editorial
KUWAIT: Kuwait Municipality has reportedly approved all the Ministry of Commerce's plans related to the inter-Gulf railway project, which will eventually see the construction of a railway link between Kuwait and the other Gulf nations. Senior officials from the commerce ministry's transport department are apparently set to hold several meetings with their counterparts from other state bodies regarding the project before publishing the first tenders for bidding, which is expected to take place within the next few months. A number of technical studies on subjects such as the location of branch stations, the cost of merchandise transportation and the manpower numbers required for the project's construction still need to be completed before work on it can begin, said one official.
The railway project is considered one of the most essential ventures in many ways for the country's planned development. It will be crucially important to the nation's commercial development, providing a reliable means of transporting various goods and materials. The budget for the railway project has already been approved, along with that for the associated underground metro project.
The 135-kilometer railway line, which will connect Kuwait with Saudi Arabia, will begin at Sulaibiya and end at Nuwaiseeb, reported Al-Qabas. The commerce ministry has already received approval to appropriate the land needed for the project, which will be completed using the Build Operate Transfer (BOT) system.
On another issue, the ministry is currently working to improve the landline telephone network, having completed a number of related projects recently and expecting to finalize work on more shortly.
In another development, the Secretary of the Parliament MP Dulaihi Al-Hajri urged the Cabinet to 'break its silence' on the hazards that have been threatening residents of Al-Thahar for over 25 years. This is mostly owing to the areas proximity to high voltage power transformers located in the area.
Al-Hajri further criticized the government for its 'double standards' in reference to recent statements that were made by the Deputy Assistant for Public Service and Maintenance Affairs at the Ministry of Electricity and Water, Sameer Al-Asfour. He warned residents of south Surra against potential environmental and health threats that emanate from high voltage power towers, reported Al-Watan.
He accused authorities of failing to listen to warnings mentioned in studies before the towers were built at a nearby residential area. Al-Hajri asked the Cabinet to find a suitable alternative to ensure the safety of the area's residents. He also said that reports released by scientific research centers have further revealed an increase in the percentage of leukemia among children residing in the area.
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Kuwait Times 2010
Source : Kuwait Times 2010
