Bahrain is to raise spending on infrastructure projects, the Cabinet has been told.

Projects costing BD338 million ($896 million) - more than twice the figure originally budgeted - will be carried out this year, the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa was told.

They will include building and maintenance of bridges, expansion of the sewerage network, improved drainage projects, an increase in electricity and water output and the modernisation of navigation and ports equipment.

In addition, a further 1,135 housing units will be built and loans for purchase will be made available to citizens.

Finance and National Economy Minister Abdulla Saif told the Cabinet that projects worth BD562 million would be implemented during the current budget period.

Projects to be carried out this year would cost BD338 million - an increase of BD178 million on the previously approved sum of BD160 million.

Earlier, Works Minister Fahmi Al Jowder had said Bahrain will spend BD320 million over the next 10 years, to create a world-class road and sewerage network.

A series of flyovers will eliminate traffic bottlenecks, he said.

A string of projects will create thousands of jobs for Bahrainis, who will make up a quarter of the workforce needed, he said.

The construction of three major flyovers at Pearl Roundabout, Seef Roundabout and the Seef-Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Highway interjunction will start next month, Al Jowder said.

The projects, expected to cost BD11.5 million, will be completed in 17 months. As part of the development of the North Corridor, major developments will begin at the King Faisal Corniche and on the Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Highway, said Al Jowder.

Flyovers or underpasses will be constructed at junctions near the Regency Inter-Continental Hotel, the Sheraton Hotel, the Diplomatic Area and Shaikh Isa Causeway, he added.

"Work on these projects, which will start next year, is estimated to cost between BD10 million to BD12 million.

"The Sitra Causeway will be reconstructed, with three lanes on each way and a new link will be built towards Jurdab, near Isa Town."

Special projects being undertaken by the Works Ministry include BD50 million work related to the Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Port and multi-million dinar airport development projects.

"Out of the total BD320 million projects to be carried out over a 10-year period, BD150 million will be spent for the sewerage network expansion," he said.

Al Jowder said work on projects worth BD17 million ($45 million) will soon begin at the Bahrain International Airport.

A parallel taxiway will be constructed at the airport as an emergency runway at a cost of BD7.8 million while the existing runway would be rebuilt at a cost of up to BD7 million, he said.

Other projects at the airport will include a new BD1.5 million control tower.

The projects are now in the tendering stage.