Morocco/Agadir urban development program: an update on the progress of the various sites

Agadir's urban development program is continuing, with several projects already completed. New projects are about to be launched. Two years after its initiation, here is the assessment of a program of more than six billion dirhams which aims to make the capital of Souss-Massa a new economic pole in the Kingdom.

The Agadir Urban Development Program 2020-2024, signed before the King in February 2020, aims to make the city a major economic hub, equipped with first-class infrastructure. Halfway through the program, several projects have already been completed.

Interviewed by Le360, Mounir Jbilou, general manager of the Agadir Souss-Massa Local Development Company, said that more thannagement, said that more than 60% of the budget planned for the realization of projects led by the SDL has already been invested: 1.9 billion dirhams have been spent, out of a total of 3 billion dirhams initially planned.

Four projects have been completed, out of a total of 76 projects, and are already operational and open to the general public: in all, 20 proximity sites in the various districts of the city, the development of the road system, the upgrading of public lighting on Avenue Mohammed V as well as the entrance to the city through the Bamako district.Mounir Jbilou also indicated that the project to develop green spaces in Anza, in addition to the rehabilitation of two covered halls in the neighborhoods of Zerktouni and Al Quds.

Mounir Jbilou also indicates that the projects carried out so far represent a total cost of 250 million dirhams, and specifies that the majority of the projects will be completed within the time limit, at a cost ofs within the time limit, except for five projects that will take a little longer including the indoor hall Adrar, the Olympic pool and "Souk Lakhmis".

The General Manager of the Local Development Corporation Agadir Souss-Massa Development also explains that the program he orchestrates also includes the development of 45 km of roads, including 10 km already completed, and 20 km underway. It is also to build more than 17 parking lots, as well as rehabilitate and equip several neighborhoods that suffer from a lack of infrastructure.

Several new projects will be launched in the coming weeks, also confirms Mounir Jbilou: the development of the park Lalla Meriem, swimming pools Mohammedi neighborhoods, Bansarkao and Aghroud, in addition to the launch of work for the construction of a new college in the city.

In parallel with these projects, the construction of the first line of a bus network with high level of service service bus network, Amalway Agadir Trambus, will be initiated, with the successive launches of the first, second and third sections of the project.

The General Manager of the Local Development Company Grand Agadir for mobility and urban travel, Abdelwahed Al Qassimi, explains that the line under construction has mobilized an investment of about 1.2 billion dirhams. With a length of 15.5 km, this line which includes 35 passenger stops will connect the port of Agadir to the district El Hajeb, and Tikiouine, through several neighborhoods and main roads of the city.

Regarding the mode of implementation of the work, the same interlocutor explains that the line has been divided into three sections. The first, with a length of 4 km includes 11 stops and connects the port of Agadir to the district of Al Qamra. Work on this section, which involves both the development of infrastructure, street lighting and green spaces show a progress rate of 60%, the delivery of this part is scheduled for the summer of 2022.

The second part of the project, says Abdelwahed Al Qassimi, is 5 km long, includes 11 stops for passengers and connects the Qamra district to the university complex Ibn Zohr, via boulevard Abderrahim Bouabid and bd Hassan^1er, while the third part, which extends from the first to the second part of the project, will be completed in the summer of 2022.The third section, which extends over 6.5 km, includes 13 passenger stops and crosses the neighborhoods of Al-Huda, the Tassila Industrial Zone, and the Assaka and El Hajeb neighborhoods in Tikiouine.

Work on these last two sections began last February and should be completed in 12 months. In parallel, a public tender was launched for the public lighting of these districts. Two other tenders are pending, for the development of green spaces to be launched in the next few weeks, says Abdelwahed Al Qassimi.

The General Manager of the Local Development Company Grand Agadir also said that the opening of bids for the tender for the acquisition of 80 buses is scheduled for this month of March. These vehicles, with a length of nearly 18 meters, can accommodate nearly 150 people and will run on a dedicated lane, or bus way.

Source: en.le360.ma