Haramain Railway on target
MORE than 90 per cent of the design of the primary infrastructure of the Haramain Railway, including that of 12 of the project’s 94 bridges, has been completed, according to Abdul Aziz Al Hoqail, president of the Saudi Railway Organisation (SRO).
The SR6.7-billion ($1.79-billion) project, which will link Makkah and Madinah, will serve Haj pilgrims as well as millions of visitors who visit the holy cities throughout the year. A model of the project was recently presented at an ongoing exhibition at King Fahad University for Petroleum and Minerals in Dhahran.
Among other developments, SRO is upgrading rail lines to achieve a speed of 180 km per hour. Safety systems, particularly signals and communications, have been upgraded with a main control centre at Dammam railway station. SRO has also planned the construction of 35 road bridges at railway crossings, the completion of fencing of the two sides of railway lines, straightening of curves and replacement of concrete sleepers, according to Muhammad Abu Zaid, director of SRO’s public relations department.
CGC wins $135m road contract
KUWAIT'S Ministry of Public Works (MPW) has awarded Kuwait-based Combined Group Contracting (CGC) a KD39.4-million ($135.3-million) contract to build intersections on the Sixth Ring-Road leading to the Jahra residential area.
The contract involves the construction and maintenance of intersections on the ring-road.
Injaz project selling fast
THE 2.5-million-sq-m Al Gamra project is expected to draw significant demand, in line with northern Riyadh’s emergence as a major Saudi real estate investment hub, with property trade worth SR2 billion ($533 million) last year. Injaz Development Company, the Riyadh-based master developer and property investment firm overseeing Al Gamra, has started selling Cluster Nine of the ready-to-build project following a Cluster Seven sellout.
“Al Gamra’s four blocks of prime residential land are capitalising on the growing number of mega properties rising up in north Riyadh,” said Omar Al Kadi, president and managing director of Injaz.
Laticrete offers latest solutions
LATICRETE RAK showcased its latest building adhesive and waterproofing technology solutions like Hydroban and SpectraLock grouts at the recent Cityscape Jeddah, in a bid to consolidate its market presence in Saudi Arabia.
Laticrete RAK is a joint venture between RAK Ceramics and Laticrete, the world leader in innovative tile and stone installation systems.Laticrete adhesives along with RAK Ceramics tiles are promoted as a single-source solution for the flooring industry.
SNC-Lavalin bags $100m scheme
SAUDI Tabreed has awarded SNC-Lavalin Construction an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract worth SR375.1 million ($100 million) for district cooling facilities in Dhahran in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.
The project consists of a 27,000 refrigeration tons (RT) district cooling plant, 14 km of dual underground chilled water pipeline, energy transfer stations with a total capacity of 32,000 RT, 115 kV high-voltage electrical power transmission lines and a substation upgrade. Engineering work on the project is already under way, with construction of the main civil works scheduled to start in the third quarter of this year. The overall project duration will be 20 months.
Makkah Metro ready for trial run
THE Makkah Metro, which is in its final stages of construction, will be put on a trial run for the first time on August 1, a top official associated with the project has said.
“On completion, the metro will link Makkah with Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat,” said Fahd Tarboush, project director general.
The project, which will cover 18 km and include eight cabins in each direction, is expected to ease traffic in Makkah, especially during the Haj season.
Aecom bags expressway deal
ENGINEERING firm Aecom Technology has been awarded a $10.7-million contract from the Qatar Public Works Authority to provide supervisory and surveying services for the second phase of an expressway project in Qatar’s capital Doha.
The project will expand a current 4.2-mile stretch of road to four lanes in each direction and upgrade surrounding infrastructure. Work on the project, due to start this month, is expected to be completed within two-and-a-half years.
Jotun’s powder coatings to cost more
JOTUN Powder Coatings (JPC) has said the prices of all its powder coating products, which the company distributes to Europe, Middle East and Asia, will increase as a result of the global escalation of the prices of raw materials.
The manufacturer said the increase will vary for each product depending on their technology base, but will affect all of its product categories – epoxy-, polyester-, hybrid- and polyurethane-based products – sold to the decorative and functional market segments.
In recent months, JPC has seen an average raw material price increase of up to 25 per cent. “Though the market circumstances have forced us to make these changes in prices, our customers can be assured of Jotun Powder Coatings’ continuous commitment to quality, excellence and use of the latest technology,” said Claudio Iurilli, JPC’s divisional marketing director.
