UAE vice president and prime minister and ruler of Dubai HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum approved an AED1bn ($272m) five-year plan for paving internal roads in a number of residential areas in Dubai, according to state news agency WAM.
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) plan aims to enhance the UAE emirate’s road networks to cope with the expanding urban development and residential areas in Dubai.
Mattar Al Tayer, the RTA’s chairman said the plan covers 16 residential areas in which the percentage of urban development ranges between 20 percent and 80 percent; in one case even in an with five percent urbanisation rate.
“With an estimated cost of AED150m, Phase I of the project will commence in five areas where water drainage system have been completed and urban development exceeds 50 percent, Al Tayer said.
The first phase will begin next year.
Phase II is scheduled to begin in 2013, Phases III and IV will commence in 2014 and 2015 respectively and Phase V is scheduled to begin in 2016, Al Tayer added.
RTA said last month it is eyeing investment from the world’s largest economy to help fund a slew of massive infrastructure projects in the Gulf emirate.
The state agency held meetings with 15 US firms to outline funding opportunities for billions-of-dirhams worth of rail, road and marine projects.
The RTA is tasked with ensuring Dubai’s infrastructure keeps pace with the emirate’s rapid growth
