Israel's Infrastructure CEO Predicts 20-Year Metro Completion
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
Nissim Peretz, CEO of Netivei Israel, criticized the state's infrastructure management, estimating the Gush Dan metro project will take at least 20 years. He highlighted significant delays in northern Israel's rehabilitation, receiving only 37 million shekels of a promised 600 million. Peretz praised progress on the Kiryat Shmona railway but expressed doubt about the Eilat line's completion. He also called for private sector involvement in national projects to overcome bureaucratic hurdles and improve execution.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Netivei Israel CEO Nissim Peretz predicts the Gush Dan metro project will take at least 20 years.
- Peretz criticized government bureaucracy for delaying national infrastructure projects.
- Only 37 million shekels of 600 million promised for northern Israel's rehabilitation have been received.
- The railway project to Kiryat Shmona is progressing with 2.4 billion shekels allocated.
- Peretz expressed skepticism about the timeline for the railway to Eilat.
- He advocated for increased private sector involvement in major infrastructure initiatives.
Nissim Peretz, CEO of Netivei Israel, has sharply criticized the state's handling of infrastructure projects, predicting that the Gush Dan metro project will take at least 20 years to complete. In an interview at the "People of the State" conference, Peretz also addressed delays in rehabilitating northern Israel, plans for railways to Kiryat Shmona and Eilat, and the establishment of additional airports.
Peretz, who has served as CEO for 11 years, called for greater involvement of the private sector in national projects, warning that government bureaucracy is hindering infrastructure development. He noted that while the need for public transportation over new roads in the Gush Dan area has been recognized in recent years, progress on crucial projects like the metro has been slow, with essential lines still awaiting development after a decade.
Regarding the north, Peretz expressed frustration over the slow pace of rehabilitation efforts, stating that despite promises of 600 million shekels for infrastructure, Netivei Israel has only received 37 million shekels. He described the situation as "delusional," with budget approvals and organizational agreements causing significant delays.
In contrast, Peretz highlighted the railway project to Kiryat Shmona as a "single point of light," with 2.4 billion shekels allocated and initial work underway. However, he expressed skepticism about the timeline for the railway to Eilat, particularly the segment from Dimona to Eilat, citing planning and environmental concerns.
Peretz also discussed plans for supplementary airports at Beit Kama and Ramat David, emphasizing the need for private sector participation to break monopolies. He believes that while Israel excels at planning, its execution capabilities are "third-world," citing an instance where he was prevented from shortening a project's timeline by a Ministry of Finance official. He praised the management of NTA (Metropolitan Mass Transit System Ltd.) but reiterated that the core issue lies with decision-makers' perceptions and the lack of private sector involvement in major projects like the metro.
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