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Iraq intends to award several new road projects in its capital Baghdad after the much-delayed 2023 is approved by Parliament, the country’s Construction and Housing Minister Benkin Rikani said in press comments on Thursday.
Several projects are already under way in the city with the primary aim of easing road congestion that has deteriorated due to crowding in most areas and lack of road maintenance, Rikani told the official Iraqi news agency.
He said nearly 20 projects have been awarded over the past months and most of them involve the construction of new roads and expansion of existing streets.
“Projects under way are part of the first round of development projects to be carried out in Baghdad…once the new budget is endorsed, there will be a new package of projects which will be awarded gradually,” the Minister said.
Iraq’s 2023 budget, which was approved by the cabinet in March, envisages capital spending of nearly $36.5 billion.
(Writing by Nadim Kawach; Editing by Anoop Menon)
