The King Fahad Causeway General Authority 2009 budget has been raised by 67 per cent, according to top Bahrain government officials.

The budget was approved on Wednesday during a meeting presided over by authority chairman and Saudi customs director general Saleh Al Khiliwi.

The authority has earmarked SR11 million ($2.93 million) have been earmarked to expand the shipping platform on the Bahraini side. Work on the project is expected to start within weeks.

A security and safety unit affiliated with the authority will also be set up to ensure smooth traffic, maintain security and co-ordinate with security bodies.

Under the expansion plans, the number of passenger booths will be increased to 17 from the existing 10.

Booths in charge of processing procedures will also be revamped to ensure smooth traffic.

Recent statistics show that the number of vehicles crossing the causeway soared by 13 per cent in the last 10 months to reach 5.5 million from 4.97m last year.-TradeArabia News Service