Amman – Allocations for Jordan’s Ministry of Transport under next year’s draft budget law have increased by 45% compared with the revised estimates for the current year.
According to the draft law, the ministry’s total current and capital expenditure for next year will reach JD 34 million, compared with JD 23.5 million for the current year following revised estimates, representing an increase of JD 10.5 million.
The draft budget allocates JD 30.1 million for capital expenditure and JD 3.9 million for current expenditure.
The draft law noted that the ministry faces several challenges, foremost among them limited funding and financial resources, rising transport project costs, lengthy implementation periods, overlapping responsibilities and powers among multiple entities, and population growth, which is increasing demand for transport services.
Capital expenditure accounts for 88% of the ministry’s total budget for next year.
The draft law showed that capital expenditure had increased by approximately JD 9.8 million compared with the revised estimates for the current year. This rise was mainly driven by a JD 2 million increase in allocations for the former Amman–Zarqa Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) link.
The increase also reflects an additional JD 2.4 million allocated for establishing a national railway and connecting it to the Aqaba Railway, as well as JD 3.5 million for the Meteorological Department’s modernisation and development project, including the construction of a weather radar station in the southern regions. Allocations for the low-frequency bus project also rose by JD 1 million.
The draft law allocated JD 25.2 million in capital expenditure to the Transport Sector Development Programme. This includes JD 650,000 for studies on transport development and the establishment of a national railway, alongside JD 3.6 million for the railway connection with the Aqaba Railway.
The programme also includes JD 8 million to complete the former Amman–Zarqa BRT project and JD 1.6 million for the Project Management Unit.
A further JD 1.5 million was allocated to rehabilitating the runway, taxiways and facilities at Amman Civil Airport. Another JD 750,000 was earmarked for expanding and rehabilitating the departure and arrival halls and other facilities at the airport.
Other allocations include JD 350,000 for tracking government vehicles and JD 150,000 for establishing an inland port and logistics centre in Al-Madounah.
The programme also provides JD 1.3 million to develop Amman’s public transport system under the “Tareq Link” project, JD 250,000 to rehabilitate the Founding King’s Palace in Ma’an Governorate, JD 75,000 for cybersecurity, and JD 100,000 for a transport accident verification project.
In addition, JD 2 million was allocated to the low-frequency bus project, while JD 25,000 was earmarked to maintain the operational readiness of the Civil Defence Centre at Queen Alia International Airport.
Source: Al Ghad Newspaper
