Rabat’s Major Transit Projects Face Delays Due to COVID-19 Pandemic

Started at the end of 2017, the work on the 7 km extension of line 2 has seen significant progress. The completion of the first 2.4 km section located in Rabat was effective in the summer of 2019, reports L’Économiste. Result: line 2 from the current terminus of Moulay Youssef Hospital (Akkari) has been extended to a part of the densely populated neighborhoods of Yakoub Al Mansour.

Early 2020 will mark the end of the 4.6 km extension work of line 2 located in Salé. According to a source close to the file, this "has made it possible to start the circulation tests via white marches". An additional traffic estimated at more than 40,000 passengers per day is conceivable.

In addition to these projects, there are some that are underway but whose work is progressing rapidly. We can mention among others the construction of the new bus station of the capital supervised by the company Rabat region development. The construction site is well advanced with a delivery scheduled at the latest before the end of October, confides a source close to the project.

"The initial planned cost was 140 million DH, but we are now at 200 million DH," says an elected official from Rabat. "However, its commissioning is likely to be delayed. The reason is the delay in finalizing and adopting the specifications for the management of this structure, which should be entrusted to an SDL," he specifies.

Similarly, other projects are underway in other areas. In terms of social and economic proximity, the development of "Souk Assalihine" in Tabriquet in Salé was completed more than three months ago, according to a source from the Salé prefecture.

With regard to the Rabat City of Light program (2014-2018), almost the majority of the planned projects have been delivered or are in the process of being completed, except for the wholesale market in the region.