KUWAIT: The Radisson Blu Hotel in Salwa is currently hosting Kuwait's first Metro and Rail Conference and Exhibition, with the two-day event, which concludes later today , being held under the patronage of caretaker communications minister Dr Mohammed Al-Busairi.

The planned construction of a metro system in Kuwait will be a clear step forward in the country's development, the minister said in his speech at the inaugural ceremony yesterday morning. "The metro system will play a part in turning Kuwait into a financial and commercial center by 2035, according to the state development plan," said Dr. Al-Busairi. " We've already begun work on the first-quarter plan, which covers many sectors, including transportation, which suffers from large-scale traffic congestion p
roblems.

A number of studies have already been carried out into Kuwait's transport-related problems, with a great deal of research being done on this area, he continued. "Communications and transport are amongst society's greatest tools and solutions. Different workshops have been held [in Kuwait] on this subject by the World Bank, the Ministry of Interior, and the Ministry of Public Works, with all these institutions being interested in the issue," the minister said.

Mass transportation is one of the primary solutions to Kuwait's traffic problems, especially given the increasing population and the limited number of roads which aren't able to handle these huge numbers.

He lauded the conference objectives, saying, "This conference aims to discuss traffic problems. We need more study and research into this issue. Studies into the metro was first carried out about 20 years ago, and today those are old already and don't suit the present time. We now need to conduct a new study for the next 20 years.

The minister said that there are also two studies currently taking place into the planned trans-Arabia railway network, in which the Eastern Line would run from Oman to Kuwait, through Iraq and into Turkey and the European nations, whilst the Western Line would run from Yemen through Saudi Arabia to Jordan, then again to Turkey and on to Europe.

These are part of the Gulf rail network system, multi-billion-dinar projects," he stressed. "The GCC countries are serious about carrying out these projects and we will see them realized within five to seven years." Al-Busairi also revealed that his own ministry has already signed a number of contracts related to the construction of the metro system.

The Ministry of Communications has already signed contracts with specialist contractors for carrying out the metro projects," he explained. "The local metro project will connect all the areas [of Kuwait] together. It should be able to transfer people from residential areas to the city center. We have to encourage the idea of mass transportation." Visitors to the conference will also have the chance to take a look at the associated exhibition and workshops taking place in the hotel's Al-Hashemi Ballroom. - Kuwait Times