Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has awarded an AED60m ($16.3m) contract for the construction of internal roads at Oud Al Mateena 2.

The contract forms part of the five-year plan from 2012 to 2016, which had been endorsed by UAE vice-president, Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for paving internal roads in a number of residential districts in Dubai, at a cost of AED1bn ($272m).

RTA director-general and chairman of the board of executive directors Mattar Al Tayer said: "The construction of internal roads project at Oud Al Mateena 2 stems from the keenness of RTA to improve the infrastructure of the area, such as road works, street lighting, and rainwater drainage systems at residential neighbourhood.

"The underlying objective of the plan is to meet the needs of demographic growth and urban expansion, and accordingly bring happiness to residents of the Emirate."

"The underlying objective of the plan is to meet the needs of demographic growth and urban expansion."

Work has already started on the new project, including making an 18km-long and 7m-wide road, 2.5m-wide parking slots that extend 8km from both sides of the road, and storm-water drainage systems.

The project is scheduled to be completed within the next ten months.

RTA awarded contracts in June 2014 for the construction of internal roads at Al Barsha South 2 (District 671) extending 16km, as well as drainage, upgrading electricity and water networks, installing LED street lights, and building public parking at schools and mosques.

The authority is said to have constructed internal roads in 13 residential areas at a cost of around AED552m ($142m) in the last few years, and works are said to be ongoing for constructing of roads in five residential areas, costing about AED319m ($86m).

RTA is expected to issue a tender for constructing internal roads at Al Khawaneej 2 and Nad El Sheba 4 in the near future.

In 2016, the authority will construct roads at the residential districts of Al Aweer 1, Jebel Ali Industrial Area, and Al Qusais Industrial Areas 3, 4 and 5.