Bahrain has 116 projects worth BD260 million on going

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

A total of 116 project that costs around BD260,199,774 are under implementation in the Kingdom as of the second quarter of 2021, said the Minister of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning. Essam Khalaf said the ministry is following up on all the projects to ensure their completion on time.

Explaining, the minister said it is implementing several road projects in all governorates of the Kingdom. “However, the most prominent amongst them is the Al Fateh Street Development Project,” the minister said. The project includes the construction of an underground tunnel with three lanes in each direction at the intersection of Al-Fateh Street with Awal Street (the Gulf Hotel).

“It also includes the construction of flyover with two lanes for traffic coming from Manama and moving towards Juffair.” The project, the minister said, will expand the Al-Fateh street to four lanes in each direction. Saudi Fund for Development is backing the BD30 million project.

Roads to Hamad city

The minister also shed light on the construction of roads leading to Al-Lawzi housing in Hamad City. “This project is also an important addition to the road parallel to Sheikh Hamad Street,” the minister said. It includes the construction of a 4.8 km road with two lanes in each direction from Zaid Bin Omairah Street to Street 3 and three lanes in each direction from Street 3 to Street 26. Essam Khalaf said the ministry is also currently working on the first phase of the Shaikh Zayed Road expansion project.

“It includes the expansion of Sheikh Zayed Road and the northern Sheikh Zayed Road (12th Street) from two to three lanes in each direction (8 km long) and the replacement of roundabouts to signal-controlled intersections (there are four roundabouts).” The project also includes the development of December 16 street and capacity enhancement for roads surrounding A’ali, Salmabad and the educational area.

The minister also revealed appointing an engineering consultancy for the second stage of the project. The ministry is also tendering works for the main intersections between Shaikh Zayed Road and all strategic roads surrounding Shaikh Salman Street, Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Street and Shaikh Isa bin Salman Street.

Busaiteen bridge

On the construction project of Busaiteen Bridge and North Manama Street, the minister said it is one of the prominent strategic projects to link Muharraq Island to the north of Manama.

“The project will construct a sea bridge with five lanes in each direction from the Al Saya area to Bahrain port,” the minister said, adding that the ministry had completed marine works for its first and second phases. The minister also highlighted the development of Raya Street as one of the most prominent projects in the road sector.

The project in its Phase 1 will have its street developed from Arad Street to its intersection with Street 13, with a 1.2 km road. “There also will be an intersection with Street 38 with 140 meters of length, the minister added. Works Ministry, Essam Khalaf said, is also implementing a project to develop roads in Block 733 in the Al-Nasifa area, dirt roads in Block 624 in the Al-Aker area, road development in Complex 360 in Zinj and water park in block 312.

Riffa projects

On the road projects in Riffa, the ministry said work has begun in Complex 913 for improving the internal road network, raising traffic safety, alleviating the rainwater gathering in the area. “The project includes repaving and infrastructure development for roads 1311, 1213, 1301, 1304, 1307, 1379, and 1369, in addition to the construction of car parks.” The minister, Khalaf said, expects to complete the project in the first quarter of 2022. Works ministry has also started implementing road development projects in block 917 in Riffa.

Sewage projects

On the sewage projects, the minister said the most prominent of them is the fourth expansion project of the Tubli sewage plant, which would improve the environment and wildlife in the region and Tublibay.

The project, the minister said, will also raise the performance of the Tubli centre for producing treated water for irrigation and agricultural purposes. The project will increase the plant’s capacity from 200,000 cubic meters to 400,000 cubic meters per day.

The project, in its second phase, will make use of the HypoX system for sewage treatment. “This would enhance the efficiency of dual-treated water and production of triple treated water for use in landscaping.” HypoX is an advanced oxidation solution for Iron, Manganese and Arsenic removal in water treatment needs.

In the first phase, the ministry converted two out of ten basins to operate using the HypoX system to improve treatment of 100,000 cubic meters out of a total of 320,000 cubic meters. “The system had proven its efficiency in the first phase, with their conformity with standard specification approved by Bahrain,” the minister added.

A’ali to Salmabad

The ministry, Essam Khalaf said, is also implementing the sewage line project from A’ali to Salmabad, which includes the extension of 3.3 km of lines. “The BD1,290,000 project contributes to relieving the pressure on the existing sewage network in the area,” said the minister. Works ministry is currently implementing a project to establish a rainwater drainage network in Al Aker to serve the housing of Horat Sanad and sewage water line from Juffair to the Al Ghuraifa area. Essam Khalaf said the ministry has also started expanding the veterinary quarantine facility in Bouri as per the directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

“The project is part of a fiveyear plan to increase the proportion of food security by at least 30% through investment in the agriculture, fisheries and livestock sector,” the minister said. The project, Khalaf said, aims to raise the quality of veterinary quarantine, ensure their compliance with required standards and keep livestock free of infectious epidemic diseases.

Three livestock pens

Works Ministry is constructing three livestock pens to accommodate 3,000 heads of cattle for BD556,789. On the Social Welfare Complex in Hamad Town, the minister said the BD6,431,538 project aims at providing the best social, psychological, health and rehabilitation services.

The ministry, he said, is also working on the Alba Social centre in Budaiya, which can accommodate 550 people. “There are also projects in Muharraq Governorate, most notably the Muharraq Centre for Private Health Care project for patients whose treatment requires long stays and the Multiple Sclerosis Centre,” the minister said.

Building for MoT

Works Minister is also working on an administrative building project for the Ministry of Transport and Communication. “The ministry is also continuing to implement projects, including the project to construct three buildings within the expansion of the Tubli station, including (the station administration building, the workshop building and the laboratory building).”

“The implementation of a project to expand the veterinary quarantine in the Rashid Equestrian and Horse Racing Club has also started, which is expecting completion in the fourth quarter of this year,” the minister added. “All these projects showcase the determination of the ministry to distribute its efforts and capabilities so that infrastructure in the Kingdom receives sufficient care and attention,” the minister stressed, adding that the works are in line with Bahrain’s Vision 2030.