WATERMARK, WATERWAY!

Muhannad Mansour/DTNN

muhannad@dt.bh

Manama

A proposal to launch water taxis on the island awaits the nod of the MPs during their weekly meeting at the Parliament House today. The project proposal, which was recently submitted by MP Mohammed Al Ammadi, stipulates the rehabilitation of the country’s infrastructure by the government to accommodate the new public transportation facility.

The proposal was lately approved by the council’s Public Utilities and Environment Committee that will present it before fellow MPs today for approval.

According to the committee, major infrastructural revamps will be required to implement the project, which, it said, would benefit the country reducing traffic congestions, offering new methods of transportation and promoting the tourism sector.

The committee also highlighted that the project would create new job opportunities for Bahrainis in the transportation sector and motivate investment in it.

Justifying the proposal, the committee said, “The geographical nature of Bahrain is appropriate to accommodate such a project.” Committee members also noted that “the idea has been successfully implemented in GCC, Arabian and European states. It will contribute in furnishing more transportation options to citizens, residents and tourists in the Kingdom.”

The committee also reviewed feedback from several related Ministries such as Transportation and Telecommunication, Interior, Industry and Commerce and Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning.

Speaking to DT News earlier, Al Ammadi explained: “Prior to the implementation of the project, the country needs more ports, especially for small and medium size boats, which will be the main boats used as taxis. These ports should also be connected to have a comprehensive nautical network that covers the whole island.”

He added that the success of maritime taxis in countries like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Lebanon, Turkey and other European and Asian countries is one of the motives behind submitting the proposal.

The Committee members include MPs Jamal Dawood, Ghazi Al Rahma, Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Ahmed Qarata, Adel Al Assoomy, Abdulhameed Al Najjar and Mohsen Al Bakry.