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Arabian Post
27-05-2025
- Business
- Arabian Post
Walvis Bay Council Unveils N$1.3 Billion Budget Amid Infrastructure and Housing Challenges
The Walvis Bay municipal council has approved a N$1.3 billion budget for the 2025/2026 financial year, focusing on infrastructure development, housing, and service delivery improvements. Management committee chairperson Richard Hoaeb presented the budget during a special council meeting, outlining allocations aimed at addressing the town's pressing needs. A significant portion of the budget, N$887 million, is earmarked for capital projects extending beyond a single financial year. For the upcoming year, N$461 million is allocated, with the remaining N$426 million planned for expenditure through June 2025 and beyond. Key projects include land development initiatives, such as the allocation of over N$55 million to three portions of Farm 37, facilitating the establishment of 727 erven, with 677 designated for residential purposes. Additionally, N$48 million is budgeted for the development of Narraville Extension 8, expected to yield 225 erven, including 194 residential plots. To support these initiatives, the council has approved tariff increases: a 5% hike for water and 2.5% for sewerage, refuse, rates, and taxes. Hoaeb emphasized that these adjustments are necessary to account for the average annual inflation rate and anticipated increases in service provider tariffs, ensuring the maintenance of service delivery standards amid rising operational costs. The municipality is also addressing the town's deteriorating infrastructure, particularly the poor state of roads leading to the port. A Memorandum of Agreement between the Road Fund Administration , Walvis Bay Municipality, and the Roads Authority commits N$248 million over five years for the rehabilitation and widening of municipal roads leading to the Port of Walvis Bay. This initiative aims to support Namibia's goal of becoming a logistics hub by 2025 and to accommodate increased cargo volumes through the port. See also Guinea's Media Future Debated Amid Ongoing Broadcast Bans In response to the town's housing crisis, the government has allocated N$445 million toward the construction of 3,000 housing units nationwide, with specific components of the Mass Housing Development Programme targeting areas including Walvis Bay. The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development has also earmarked N$50 million for the recapitalization of the National Housing Enterprise and funding for the construction of 250 basic shared ablution facilities in informal settlement areas. Despite these efforts, residents have expressed frustration over the municipality's service delivery, citing issues such as uncollected waste, inadequate sanitation services, and the poor condition of roads. Concerns have also been raised about the proposed introduction of levies on homeowners with backyard shacks, which critics argue unfairly penalize low-income residents amid a severe shortage of affordable land and housing. The municipality's Local Economic Development strategy for 2023-2028 aims to create a conducive business environment, stimulate inclusive economic growth, and support micro, small, and medium enterprises. Stakeholder engagement sessions have been held to discuss ways to improve residents' living standards and position Walvis Bay as an ideal option for global trade and investment.
Zawya
20-05-2025
- Zawya
Saudi minister launches expanded Road Cooling Initiative at holy sites
RIYADH — Minister of Transport and Logistics and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Roads General Authority Eng. Saleh Al-Jasser launched on Monday a number of innovative initiatives for the Hajj Season of 2025, with the aim of enhancing the comfort of pilgrims at the holy sites. The inauguration included the expansion of the Flexible Rubber Roads and Road Cooling Initiatives, in addition to two new initiatives: planting trees and improving the environment on flexible rubber roads, and a path serving people with disabilities. The Roads Authority said that the Road Cooling Initiative has expanded by 82 percent this year, following its success since its launch in 2023, paving more than 84,000 square meters of roads in the Arafat area. The idea of this initiative stems from the fact that roads absorb heat during the day, with temperatures sometimes reaching 70 degrees Celsius. Roads then release this heat at night, causing a phenomenon known as the 'Urban heat island effect,' which leads to increased energy consumption and air pollution. The need to address this phenomenon has prompted the experiment with 'cool pavements,' made from locally produced materials capable of absorbing less solar radiation by reflecting it. This experiment results in a lower surface temperature by approximately 12 degrees Celsius and increasing radiation reflection by 30 percent to 40 percent during morning than traditional pavements, making it suitable for roads around residential areas. This provides a comfortable environment for pilgrims while reducing energy consumption and air pollution. The launch included a 33 percent expansion of the Flexible Rubber Roads Initiative, which addresses the hardness of asphalt surfaces in pedestrian walkways, especially for the elderly. Paving work included the road extending from Namirah Mosque to the Mashaer Train Station in Arafat, bringing the total area used to 16,000 square meters. Flexible rubber asphalt enhances comfort while walking. The Road Research Center's experiments have proven its success in providing a safe experience. The new initiatives launched by the minister included afforestation and environmental improvements along the flexible route. Trees were planted along a 1,200-meter stretch of road extending between Namirah Mosque and the train station in Arafat. Air mist technology was also applied, along with the establishment of water fountains to improve air quality and provide a comfortable environment for pilgrims while performing their rituals. The Services for People with Disabilities Initiative was also launched, including the allocation of a 4,000-meter path along the pedestrian route leading to Jabal al-Rahmah in Arafat. The path was paved with cool materials to reduce vibration in line with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 to promote inclusiveness and improve quality of life. The Roads General Authority's roads sector strategy contributes to raising the level of road quality to reach the sixth indicator globally, and reducing deaths to less than five cases per 100,000 people by 2030, so that the roads sector continues its pioneering role in enabling many vital and promising sectors through the Kingdom's road network, which is the first in the world in its interconnection of more than 73,000 km. Eng. Al-Jasser emphasized that the Hajj transportation plans and system are an effective and comprehensive system, and planning for them begins with the end of the Hajj season in anticipation of the new season. The minister said that the land, air, and sea ports, as well as the roads connecting these ports to the holy sites, have been equipped with more than 7,400 kilometers of maintenance and refurbishment. He said that the Haramain High Speed Railway is one of the major projects serving pilgrims to the House of God, thanks to the significant support this system receives from the wise leadership to provide the best services to pilgrims. Eng. Al-Jasser noted that private development initiatives, such as rubber pavements and road cooling, are expanding through the use of various technologies, including advanced road inspection devices, the use of drones for road inspection, and other modern technologies to serve pilgrims. The minister expressed the pride of the transportation and logistics system over the progress it provides to pilgrims. "This is achieved through expanding, developing, and improving these services with new technologies each year," he added. © Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
