Forty-one government projects involving nine ministries are seriously delayed by state budget hiccups and contractors, a report said.

Chairing the weekly Cabinet, HRH Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa gave instructions to address causes delaying their completion, reported the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

He directed measures to be taken against parties causing the delays, whether contractors or project supervisors, stressing the importance of averting delays, giving directives to complete the development schemes and programmes according to plans and allocated budgets.

The move follows a report submitted by Minister of State for Implementation Mohammed Al Mutawa.

The survey followed up the progress of work on 733 projects and programmes undertaken by 38 ministries and government departments.

The report listed 41 projects involving nine ministries and government departments which are still unfinished, although initially scheduled be completed in the first quarter of 2013.

The delay in passing the state budget and contractors' delays were cited as causes behind the failure to meet deadlines, in addition to issues relating to co-ordination between ministries and government departments.

The Premier assigned the ministries for services and infrastructure to find the causes of delayed projects and fast-track them. – TradeArabia News Service