Work is at an advanced stage on the Salma Bridge project, a major link to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street  in the northern emirate of Umm Al Quwain, and is due for completion in May next year, said a report.

The project is being implemented by the Ministry of Infrastructure Development in two phases.

The first comprises the construction of a bridge on Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street at the entrance of Al Salma area, which was recently completed, while work has started on the second phase which includes connecting the bridge with entrances and exits, installing lighting poles and guiding boards, and ensuring the safety of public services on the street, reported state news agency Wam.

HH Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mu'alla, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Umm Al Qaiwain, yesterday (January 23) visited the Salma Bridge site to review the work progress.

Sheikh Saud also viewed the ongoing construction work in the Umm Al Quwain residential district, implemented by the Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme (SZHP) at Al Shuhada city. He hailed the efforts of the programme and the managers of the 232-unit residential project.

Dr Abdullah bin Mohammed Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Infrastructure Development and chairman of the board of trustees of SZHP, stressed that the programme is aimed at building social residential units that would contribute to achieving community cohesion and ensuring positive interaction between citizens through the associated facilities and services to these residential districts.

He pointed out that under the programme, housing units were supplied with integrated facilities in order to make citizens happy and fulfil their various needs in line with the national agenda 2021.

On the sidelines of the tour, Sheikh Saud was also briefed about the "Zayed Districts" smart programme, designed by SZHP as the first governmental smart programme for virtual housing units on the regional level that enable customers to watch the current residential units being built under the programme as well as the future projects, said the report.

The 'Zayed Districts' takes the buyers on a virtual tour and helps them book units separately by entering each house and exploring its space, rooms and facilities, it added.