His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Deputy Sultan, yesterday took a closer look at the current developments at construction sites of National Housing Projects under the 10th National Development Plan (NDP) yesterday.

His Royal Highness, who is the Chairman of the National Committee of the 10th NDP, visited three NDP projects, including national housing construction sites in Kg Mengkabau, Kg Meragang and Kg Tanah Jambu as well as a flyover project at the Muara-Tutong Highway/Berakas Linkroad Interchange.

His Royal Highness' working visit began at the Mengkabau National Housing site where he was greeted upon arrival by senior government officials, including Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Abdul Rahman bin Haji Ibrahim, Acting Minister of Finance who is Deputy Chairman of the National Committee of the 10th NDP; Pehin Orang Kaya Hamzah Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Abdullah bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji Bakar, Minister of Communication who is also Acting Minister of Development, Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Yahya bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji Bakar, Minister of Industry and Primary Resources, as well as other cabinet ministers and other members of the National Committee of the 10th National Development Plan.

At the Kg Mengkabau site, His Royal Highness heard a briefing from Dr Hj Manaf bin Hj Metussin, Deputy Managing Director of Brunei Economic Development Board, on the Kg Meragang Housing Project and Awg Hj Marzuke bin Hj Mohsin, Acting Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Development, on the Flyover Project at the Muara-Tutong Highway/Berakas Linkroad Interchange.

His Royal Highness also visited the material production sites for the project, namely the Concrete Batching Plant, Reinforced Concrete Panels Precasting Yard and BRC Mesh & Roof Manufacturing Plant.

His Royal Highness also took a closer look at a terraced-type "mock" house and signed commemorative parchments at both national housing project sites as well as at the flyover project site.

At the flyover project site, His Royal Highness attended a briefing by Dyg Hajah Siah binti Hj Amat, Acting Deputy Director of General Public Works Department at the Ministry of Development.

The working visit allowed His Royal Highness to have a closer look at the planning and implementation of the NDP projects.

This reflected His Royal Highness' continuous support for His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam's efforts in ensuring the government agencies are always sensitive and responsive to the current needs and developments aimed at maintaining the prosperity and well-being of the people.

The national housing project in Kg Meragang is being built in a 420-hectare site.

Work on the site began with an earthwork project under the 8th NDP and continued with the infrastructural and housing construction under the 9th NDP.

Projects under the 9th NDP were carried forward to the 10th NDP, under which the completion time and payments are scheduled.

The national housing project at Kg Meragang was implemented 'in-house' by the Housing Development Department and also through an appointed consultant.

The national housing site in Kg Meragang allocated a total of 1,857 house units and 198 land lots which will be presented to recipients in 2012 and 2013.

Most of the houses are scheduled to be presented to recipients in the third quarter of this year. The national housing site in Kg Meragang produces three types of houses, namely deluxe, standard and basic.

Terrace houses are also allocated at the site, comprising 1,254 basic-type houses, 69 standard-type houses and 474 terrace houses.

The land lot size of each house is 0.125 acre, whereby for each terrace house is 0.08 acre (corner) and 0.06 acre (intermediate).

The national housing project in Kg Tanah Jambu, meanwhile, is being build on a 450-hectare site.

The work on the site began with an earthwork project under the 8th NDP and continued with the infrastructural and housing construction under the 9th NDP.

There are 1,522 housing units and 604 land lots which will be presented to the recipients by the end of this year.

There are 266 semi-detached houses and 1,256 terrace houses being built at the Kg Tanah Jambu National Housing site.

The land size of the semi-detached house is 0.1 acre, whereas the size for each terrace house is 0.08 acre (corner) and 0.06 acre (intermediate).

During the working visit, His Royal Highness also visited the Viaduct construction site at the Muara-Tutong Highway intersection.

The Viaduct will provide an alternative route at the highway intersection with Berakas (four-junction), where traffic lights will no longer be needed once the project is completed.

It will also provide a convenient route for road users heading towards the city centre. - Borneo Bulletin (20 May 2012)