Works Minister tours projects in Capital Governorate

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Essam Khalaf, the Minister of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning, yesterday held a field visit to review the progress and feedback of various development and service projects ongoing in the Capital Governorate.

The projects are being developed based on approvals from the government headed by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. The minister stressed the government’s keenness to collect feedback from officials and people to develop the facilities with the highest standards and make maximum use of the available resources.

He explained that work is underway within the ministry’s strategy to implement several development projects in the capital governorate, including the Umm Al-Hassam walkway. Umm Al-Hassam walkway Umm Al-Hassam walkway project, the minister said, achieved 98% completion and is expecting completion in the first quarter of this year.

The minister also pointed out that the project includes solar-powered lighting to save energy and reduce the cost of maintenance and operation. “We also installed shaded chairs and seating as well as planted evergreen trees to increase the green area.”

He added: “The focus was on planting environmentally friendly trees.” Prince Saud Al-Faisal Walkway On the third phase of the Prince Saud Al-Faisal Walkway, the minister said that works had begun and would hopefully complete in the first quarter of this year.

“The project includes tracks for walking, running and cycling, green spaces, tourist and recreational facilities, restaurants and services.” The project extends between Juffair and King Faisal Corniche over 14 kilometres. He further stressed that the development of Prince Saud Al-Faisal Walkway (Phase III) would kick-start the urban development of the Manama waterfront.

“This project aims to improve the appearance of the landscape and increase the green spaces in the area to reduce pollution and use the empty spaces of the road as safe walkways and bike paths.” The minister said the current walkway has a length of 1.7 kilometres and a width of 4.5 meters.

The total area estimated for the use of bicycles and pedestrians is 7,600 square meters, which will be re-allocated for walking. The minister explained that the effort is to link projects having waterfronts, central parks and public roads to walkways that serve citizens and residents to practice sports.

“The ministry is keen to launch walkway projects in all governorates of the Kingdom.” Road development in Juffair Essam Khalaf said the ministry is to launch projects for road development, sewage network, and landscaping at Block 324 in Juffair.

The project calls for developing sidewalks, bicycle paths, parking lots, landscape, rainwater and sewage networks and street lights. Lighting poles Works Ministry, the minister said, had also completed two projects to increase the number of lighting poles in Complex 373 in Bou Ghazal, which included the installation of 65 lighting poles and replacing 60 lighting units with an LED system.

“The ministry also completed a lighting project in Complex 324 in Al-Fateh, which included installing 30 new lighting poles and replacing 89 lighting units with LEDs.” MP Ammar Al-Bannai, Ahmed Al-Khayat, Undersecretary for Works Affairs, Sheikh Mohamed bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Undersecretary for Municipal Affairs, Saleh Tarada, Chairman of the Capital Municipality Council, Mohammed Saad Al-Sahli, Director General of the Capital Municipality, Kazem Abdul Latif, Assistant Undersecretary for Roads, and ministry officials were present.