Caretaker Minister of Public Works and Transport, Ali Hamieh, stated on Friday that the allocated amount for road maintenance in the budget for the year 2024 is equivalent to 20% of the minimum amount required to ensure public and road safety.
Hamieh called on the MPs to examine the financial aspect of road maintenance during the budget discussion in Parliament on January 24 and 25, so that the ministry can fully carry out its functions.
During a press conference held at the Faraya-Mzaar ski resort, Hamieh emphasized that the ministry needs “at least $350 million for the periodic maintenance of highways and roads, while the budget for the current year is 5,400 billion Lebanese pounds, equivalent to $60 million.” He specified that the road network has not been maintained since 2019.
“If the Ministry of Public Works does not have an acceptable budget, even if it is half of the required amount, it will not be able to assume its responsibilities,” he warned.
Regarding landslides, Hamieh noted that he has asked ministry engineers to conduct a technical inspection to reveal the true reasons behind this phenomenon. “It seems that there are factors beyond the Ministry’s capabilities,” he said, calling for a state of emergency to be declared across all relevant authorities to address landslides caused by storms.
