The opening of Bahrain's BD15 million Adhari Park development, which was scheduled for the Eid holidays, has been delayed.

It could take two months before it opens because of hold-ups in establishing the electricity connection and various equipment installations, say developers.

Adhari Park Development company project vice-chairman Mohammed Abdul Khaliq said that they were still waiting for power.

He blamed the setback on the huge demand for services created by the country's ongoing property boom.

Officials were hoping the park would open in time for the Eid Al Fitr holidays, so they could cash in on bumper crowds.

'We are in the process of getting electricity connection and after than we need 40 days to open,' Khaliq told the Gulf Daily News, our sister newspaper.

'Technically we are ready and the buildings are finished, but there are testing issues and commissioning of the air-conditioning systems and machines.

'That is the natural process of any development, but we cannot do that until we have the electricity.'

Khaliq could not give an exact date as to when the park may open because it was out of the project team's hands, but said December was most likely.

He said that the project's investors were unhappy with the delay and the public were anxious to try out the new facility.

Khaliq said it was not the fault of the Water and Electricity Ministry, adding that delays were natural given the fact so many projects were demanding the same services at once.

'The delay is not to the advantage of the project and people are waiting, however, it is not a matter of pinpointing certain people because they are giving us support and things are going faster than other projects.

The new park is built on an area measuring 165,319 sq m and features 34 rides, a go-cart, hanging train, a monorail, minigolf course, a bowling alley, billiards hall and a games arcade.

Family recreation facilities, a traditional shopping mall with 25 shops and a children's museum are also part of the attraction.

The park is part of the second phase to revive the Adhari area, which hosts one of Bahrain's most renowned landmarks - Ain Adhari.

The natural freshwater spring was renovated and reopened to the public three-and-a-half years ago.

The project is being constructed by Al Khaleej Development Company (Tameer) and Kuwaiti Markets and Commercial Complexes Company, which has been contracted to run the park for 30 years.

They formed the Adhari Park Development Company, an independent company, with three other partner companies. -TradeArabia News Service