First phase of Smart City to be completed by mid-October

This includes completion of principal roads leading to the entrance of the city as well as the underground network, beneath the roads, that will provide 80% of services to all buildings of Smart City.

In an interview with In-Nazzjon, Vince Borg, director of tthe consortium responsible for infrastructural works at Smart City, Three Bees Joint Venture, said that works involved implementation of a fire and irrigation system, potable water, storm water and drainage.

He said that pipes with a lifetime guarantee are being used – the first time they have been used in Malta – and all material used is being recycled. The last works include laying down of asphalt which has been imported as local asphalt is not up to standard. This is the only part of the project which includes imported material that is not being recycled.

Vince Borg also said that for the first time in Malta, once the asphalt is laid there is no reason to dig it up as services of water, electricity and drainage are accessible from underground. Works are being supervised by a foreign engineers in collaboration with Maltese contractors and workers.

The aim of the project is to create a state-of-the-art information technology hub, expected to cost at least €275 million and covering 360,000 square metres in Ricasoli. The project is expected to be completed by 2021.