Only 2 labor cities built in last 9 yrsKUWAIT CITY, Dec 16: Official data posted on the official website of “New Kuwait”, affiliated to the Secretariat General for the Supreme Council for Planning and Development, revealed that Kuwait metro project will cost a total sum of KD 3.460 billion, reports Al-Nahar daily.The daily quoting a source noted the project is part of the development projects meant to improve and upgrade infrastructural facilities to meet modern standards to impact positively on the quality of life. He said the project is about 11 percent complete and expected to be accomplished in 2019 under Kuwait Vision 2035 development project.He explained the project document indicates execution through public-private partnership (PPP) system, in line with the provisions of law number 116/2014. He added the metro project is an innovation to ease means of transportation in the country effectively and efficiently, assuring the project will meet up international standards. He shed light on the objectives of the project, saying it will provide over 1,500 job opportunities at the operation stage and reduce the rate of traffic congestion.He indicated almost 19,000 people could use metro during the rush hour, and contribute to reduce the rate at which expatriates use private transport system, especially as the category constitute 90 percent of potential metro users. It will improve social and commercial centers located around the metro coverage areas and reduce the rate of traffic accidents and stem down the problem associated with environmental pollution emanating from vehicles.Meanwhile, Ministry of Public Works, Kuwait Municipality and other official bodies since 2008 have been declaring their intention to build labor cities of four-star level, reports Al-Qabas daily. Kuwait, represented by its relevant authorities, had expressed keenness to contract six labor cities but only two cities have been constructed in the last nine years to accommodate 10,000 bachelors. Even though the idea of building fourstar labor cities was announced by Ministry of Public Works, the reality of the constructed labor cities is quite different.Al-Qabas daily, during a field tour of the labor city in Sabhan area, discovered that this city suffers from great neglect by the relevant authorities and lack of security even though 3,000 laborers are staying there for the last three years. According to a study carried out by a technical committee formed by Ministry of Finance, establishing labor cities with the costs being borne by the government is no longer valid option.The project has been floated for investments, and the land required for the project has been allocated in south of Jahra, Subbiya, Mutla’a, east of Uraifan City and north of Al-Khairan areas. Field tours in Shaddadiya and Sabhan areas uncovered the many problems that the laborers living there are facing. These include hygiene-related problems, lack of services, utilities, shops and restaurants as well as absence of security.