Minister of Transport Meir Sheetrit: If we want to keep Jerusalem unified, we must ensure uniformity at every level of service.
Minister of Transport Meir Sheetrit has ordered a NIS 140 million budget supplement to be transferred to Moriah - Jerusalem Development Corporation Ltd. for construction of the East Jerusalem ring road and American Rd. (between El-Uzziyeh and Umm-Lissun). The two projects are intended to develop east Jerusalem's infrastructure.
Sheetrit said the condition of east Jerusalem's infrastructure was catastrophic. "It's an embarrassment that Israel, which talks about unified Jerusalem, has reached such a situation. The condition of the road infrastructure is appalling. The Ministry of Transport must make a major investment effort to urgently improve the infrastructure. If we want to keep Jerusalem unified, we must ensure uniformity at every level of service."
Sheetrit said incorrect cost estimates were party to blame for the delay in the East Jerusalem ring road project. The project was not included in Moriah's original 2005 budget of NIS 510 million, including only NIS 145 million for roads.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on June 5, 2005