KUALA KRAI, A total of 1,687 active projects costing RM72.61 billion under the Public Works Department (JKR) were implemented this year, Public Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said. He added that the projects include road infrastructure, bridges and buildings such as dilapidated schools. "Until July, 87 projects have been completed, 34 of them infrastructure projects such as roads and bridges, 42 building construction and 11 of them other projects. "The government is always committed to completing all projects implemented for the betterment of the people,' he said after visiting the Sungai Durian bridge replacement at Jalan Persekutuan FT008 here today. He also shared that 88 projects costing RM7.9 billion were still under construction in Kelantan, and that 38 of them were building projects with the rest involving infrastructure such as roads and bridges. "Most of the projects are expected to be completed on schedule with each period being between 24 to 36 months, depending on the type of project. "We will always monitor these projects carefully so that there are no delays or problems that will disrupt the period allotted to the project to be completed,' he said. On the Sungai Durian bridge replacement project, Nanta said that the physical progress as of July 15 was 39 per cent with the contract cost of RM16 million, and the expected completion date of July next year. "The aim of replacing the bridge is to overcome traffic problems on the main route from Kota Bharu to Kuala Lumpur as the existing bridge is narrow and old. "This project can also solve the problem of roads being cut off as the existing bridge is too low to cope with flooding during rainy season,' he added. Source: BERNAMA News Agency