A string of commercial, municipal and development projects have been lined up for Bahrain's Southern Governorate over the next three years, it was announced yesterday.

Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Minister Dr Juma Al Ka'abi said many projects for the governorate were either in the planning, execution or final phases.

He stressed that the ministry gave equal attention to the Southern Municipal Council like the other councils in Bahrain.

"Whether we have the necessary budget or not, there are many projects lined up in the Southern Governorate," Dr Al Ka'abi said during his visit to the council headquarters in West Riffa.

Southern Municipality director-general Shaikh Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Khalifa said many projects were listed and classified as top priorities.

"We have decided to allow investors to build a commercial complex on strategic municipal land in East Riffa after a halt of four years due to shortages in our budget and we except the project to now cost around BD600,000," he said.

"The project has now been tendered through the Tender Board for potential bidders and whoever is selected will ensure that the land gets utilised. We will be getting municipal revenue out of it without shouldering any construction costs."

Shaikh Mohammed said scrap yards were also being moved to another location near the wasteland in Hafeera after complaints about its locations in Askar.

"The new location that will accommodate 15 scrap yards will be ready by the end of the year," he said.

The official said the municipality had successfully moved 10 cattle yards to the Bahrain Oil Field area with others to be moved there in the future whenever approval is given.

"A small abattoir will also be built to accommodate butchering needs of customers not wishing to buy from the Bahrain Livestock Company," he said.

Shaikh Mohammed said work on 12 projects was on schedule at the municipality. "We have opened a new BD520,000 park in Safra and a BD130,000 park in Askar will soon be officially inaugurated," he said.

"Five new parks are also being built in Wadi Al Sail (opposite BDF Hospital) at a cost of BD100,000 and they will be ready by the end of the year.

"A neighbourhood rest area has been completed at a cost of BD13,500 for Al Dur residents and a BD3,500 rest area for passers-by will be completed within days in East Riffa."

Shaikh Mohammed said a stairway was also being built at a cost of BD15,000 for people wishing to go down the Hanuniyah Valley, between East and West Riffa.

"The area surrounding the Sail Monument in Riffa will be beautified at a cost of BD20,000," he said. - TradeArabia News Service