Jaber Stadium in Kuwait is 100% safe: Al-Kharafi Group
Kuwait:-Al-Kharafi Group Board Chairman Marzouk Nasser AlـKharafi has denied rumors that there are faults in the Jaber Sports Stadium”s construction, or that it may collapse. He stressed that the stadium was built according to the highest standards of engineering and that fans will be able to see matches from any point in the stadium.
In a press conference held Thursday at Jaber Stadium, AlـKharafi stated that the project was originally billed to cost 55.25 million Kuwaiti dinars, with the final cost reaching KD 59.456 million due to changes that were made during the project. He added that the Ministry of Public Works received the stadium from AlـKharafi Group in September, 2007.
He noted that the cost of the Qatar Stadium in Doha was higher than the cost of Jaber Stadium, and asserted that the project was not “granted” to AlـKharafi Group, but that it was one of 11 companies which submitted offers to win the tender.
AlـKharafi concluded his statements to the press by expressing regret over the rumors.
For his part, Ministry of Public Works” Undersecretary Abdulaziz AlـKulaib explained that change orders, such as those that raised the price of Jaber Stadium”s construction by KD 4.2 million, are normal and not limited to this project. He also stated the total cost of the project did not reach KD 60 million, as had been reported by the media, and that the increase in cost had been exaggerated.
AlـKulaib said that the delay in completing the project “makes people wonder about the reasons behind this delay, but the main reason behind the delay is the routine and the change order.” He added that removing the track “may affect the work and delay the opening.”
For his part, Head of Jaber Stadium”s work team Homoud Fleitah said that the stadium will be opened in October and that the press conference was held Thursday to clarify facts and respond to queries from the press and the public.
He explained that the pitch of the stadium will be changed within 8 months, and that the work will be completed after signing a contract with an international expert who had already arrived to Kuwait to test the pitch. He said that the Public Authority for Youth and Sport exerts great efforts to complete this project.
Al Watan Daily © Image via Buzberry
