Abu Dhabi Municipality and Town Planning Department has prepared the comprehensive development plan for Abu Dhabi emirate to be implemented by the year 2010, including a number of projects to be carried out in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The plan, many aspects of which are starting to take shape, is designed to reduce pressure on the capital by developing and populating outlying areas. In recent years significant improvements have been made to the road network in and around Abu Dhabi to improve traffic flow. In particular major work on the Eastern Ring Road has now reached its final phase. Other major transportation projects completed in 1999 include the Dh 112 million new Al Maqta bridge, linking the island of Abu Dhabi to the mainland, at the end of July 1999 and completion of the beautification and expansion of Abu Dhabi Corniche at a cost of Dh 200 million. The municipality is also spending Dh 148 million on 27 other projects. These include construction of a branch of the Abu Dhabi Women’s Association in Al Wathba and a large fruit, vegetable and fish market in Medinat Zayed. With regard to public health and environmental protection, the municipality implemented 14 projects at a total cost of Dh 938 million in 1998, while another 21 projects costing Dh 581 million are under construction. As part of its beautification drive the municipality has demolished old areas and buildings in the city, having given adequate compensation to the owners. Around 1,350 houses are currently under construction in Al Rabha, Al Shahama, Al Samha, Al Wathba, Al Sila, Medinat Zayed and Liwa, and are scheduled to be distributed to citizens upon their completion. In the past the municipality has created 39 parks and built approximately 150 fountains in various parts of the emirate. A major focus of the municipality is the creation of a green belt around the city and the planting of roadside verges and parks with trees and flowers. Major forestation and farming projects in the desert are also undertaken by the municipality. (For more information see section on Agriculture and Fishing). As far as public transport is concerned, approximately 250 modern buses equipped with air conditioning have been placed at the service of 1.2 million commuters. To cater for the growing need for car parking facilities in the capital, the municipality is investing m o re than Dh 300 million in building four new underground car parks, taking the number of new car parks that the capital will have in the coming years to eight. The municipality’s revenue from rents on industrial land, fees at abattoirs and entry fees at public gardens amounted to Dh 38.56 million in 1998.
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