Rome Jubilee projects dogged by delays.Italy's audit court has called on Rome mayor Roberto Gualtieri to speed up projects under way for the Vatican's Jubilee Year and cancel the schemes most behind schedule.The Jubilee began more than six months ago however as of 12 June, only 31 of the 57 priority Jubilee projects had been completed, La Repubblica reports. The projects, designated as "essential and non-deferrable", should have been completed by the end of last year, according to a report by the audit court sent to Gualtieri who, in addition to being the mayor of Rome, is the special commissioner for the Jubilee. Out of these 57 priority projects, 31 had been completed, 15 were partially completed, four were nearing completion, six were ongoing, and one had not even started. The audit court found that out of 118 projects classified as "essential", only four were completed: another 12 are partially completed, five were nearing completion, 21 were still in the planning phase, and nine were still in the tender process. Three had been cancelled, according to the report which was also sent to the Italian government and the parliament, La Repubblica reports. The audit court found that the pace of work on construction sites had accelerated in the first six months of the year, noting that some delays had been made up but stressed it was not enough. Among the projects not yet underway is the redevelopment of Via dei Fori Imperiali, for which a commissioner's order has been issued to streamline the tender process and allow work to begin later this year. After the latest meeting of the so-called control room with the government two weeks ago, Gualtieri stated that 81 per cent of the essential and non-deferrable projects would be at least partially completed by the end of July. On Tuesday the city inaugurated a new bridge at Tor Vergata, near Calatrava's Vela which was completed recently after more than 15 years, ahead of the upcoming Jubilee of Youth. Photo credit: RVillalon / Shutterstock.com.

Italy's audit court has called on Rome mayor Roberto Gualtieri to speed up projects under way for the Vatican's and cancel the schemes most behind schedule. The Jubilee began more than six months ago however as of 12 June, only 31 of the 57 priority Jubilee projects had been completed,  reports. The projects, designated as "essential and non-deferrable", should have been completed by the end of last year, according to a report by the audit court sent to Gualtieri who, in addition to being the mayor of Rome, is the special commissioner for the Jubilee. Out of these 57 priority projects, 31 had been completed, 15 were partially completed, four were nearing completion, six were ongoing, and one had not even started. The audit court found that out of 118 projects classified as "essential", only four were completed: another 12 are partially completed, five were nearing completion, 21 were still in the planning phase, and nine were still in the tender process. Three had been cancelled, according to the report which was also sent to the Italian government and the parliament, La Repubblica reports. The audit court found that the pace of work on construction sites had accelerated in the first six months of the year, noting that some delays had been made up but stressed it was not enough. Among the projects not yet underway is the redevelopment of Via dei Fori Imperiali, for which a commissioner's order has been issued to streamline the tender process and allow work to begin later this year. After the latest meeting of the so-called control room with the government two weeks ago, Gualtieri stated that 81 per cent of the essential and non-deferrable projects would be at least partially completed by the end of July. On Tuesday the city inaugurated a new bridge at Tor Vergata, near  which was completed recently after more than 15 years, ahead of the upcoming Jubilee of Youth. Photo credit: RVillalon / Shutterstock.com.