Contractors may bid for one or more packages or all the packages together

Meanwhile, Dewa) general manager Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer said steady progress was also being made on the 'K' station project.

On another front, he said Dewa had formally signed a Dh18.71 million ($5 million) supply, installation and commissioning contract with Saudi Cable Company (SCC) for a 55 km, 400 kV single-circuit overhead transmission line.

Bahrain builds new roads

Manama: Bahrain's Works and Agriculture Ministry will lay down a 1 km road crossing the Crown Prince Highway in Western Askar leading towards block 579, which is a residential area. Work on the BD175,450 ($465,000) project is expected to end by October-end.

Work on a roundabout at the crossroads between the Budaiya and Janabiya Highways was also set to begin this month and end by October. It will cost BD194,145.

Work on several new roads in Arad at a cost of BD175,422, extending a total distance of 2.6 km, was also to begin and is expected to be completed by November-end.

$13.8m infrastructure boost

Muscat: Oman has allocated RO5.3 million ($13.84 million) to implement infrastructure development projects within the country.

Sultan Qaboos has issued directives to implement these projects and complete road and lighting works in the wilayats of Salalah, Taqa, Mirbat, Sadah, Rakhyut, Dhalkut, Thamrait and Shaleem and the niyabat of Al Shuwaimiah and Mazyouna.

The government has also allocated $2.59 million to set up the municipality's central abattoir. The decisions were announced by Shaikh Mohammed bin Ali Al Qatabi, Minister of State and Governor of Dhofar.

Diplomat names consultant

Manama: Mohamed Salahuddin Consulting Engineering Bureau (MSCEB) has been appointed consultant for the BD6.5 million ($17.2 million) Diplomat Residential Tower project.

Tenders for the construction will be issued in about 10 months time, according to MSCEB. The client is National Hotels Company (NHC).

Construction of the 14-storey luxury complex, which will be built next to the Diplomat Radisson SAS Hotel, is expected to begin in summer next year and should last 18 months.

The residential tower will offer short- and medium-term accommodation in the heart of the Diplomatic Area.

The proposed residential tower comes amidst the launch of a BD1 million hotel upgrade and facelift.

$220m water boost planned

Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi plans to pump nearly Dh811 million ($220.8 million) into irrigation and sewage projects this year, as part of a long-term development plan in the emirate.

The projects in Abu Dhabi city and the Western region include new sewage systems, expansion of current sewage networks, installation of additional irrigation facilities in the Western region and other water and power projects.

The projects will cover Abu Dhabi city, nearby Musaffah, Gayathi, Delma Island, Bani Yas and Wathba, Shahama, Samha and other areas.

Dubai develops three parks

Dubai: Three new parks are being developed by the Dubai Municipality at a total cost of over Dh12 million ($3.27 million), local reports said.

Tenders for the neighbourhood parks in Al Towar 3, Al Garhoud and Al Safa 2 had already been awarded, General Projects Department head of projects design section Mohammed Hassan Al Ali said.

The work on the projects, occupying a total area of 4.7 hectares, will commence soon and is expected to be completed by March 2003, Al Ali said.

Al Towar 3 park will be divided into two sections: a dedicated family section and full-fledged games area.

The Garhoud park would be located close to the main residential area in Al Garhoud. This park too is divided into two parts including a sports facility, segregated from an extensively landscaped area.

The Al Towar 3 and Garhoud parks are expected to be ready by March next year, Al Ali said.

The Al Safa 2 park, also classified as a community park, will essentially cater to the people residing in its vicinity. The park is divided into two parts: sports facilities area and garden area. It is expected to be ready by February 2003.