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Bahrain launches massive homes revamp

Manama, May 20, 2013

Bahrain has launched a major project to revamp residential areas across the kingdom, which will benefit 10 dilapidated districts, a report said.

The project was unveiled as HRH Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa chaired the weekly Cabinet meeting, according to the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

Under the scheme, which will benefit areas in Isa Town, Umm Al Hassam, Busaiteen, Sanabis and Al Hid, dilapidated apartment buildings will undergo a major revamp and be equipped with all services, including lifts.

Work on the three-phased development and reconstruction project will start in the third quarter of this year and run until 2018. The ambitious project is expected to provide 4,000 new flats - up from 1,900 at present.

A memo submitted by the Housing Ministry shows the number of applications for flats topping 4,000 to-date.

Housing officials were directed to start reconstructing abandoned buildings immediately. They were also instructed to take necessary measures for the other buildings which are still inhabited so the project can proceed unhindered.

In another development, it was revealed that Bahrain's sewerage network covers up to 95 per cent of the population - one of the highest rates in the world. The session unveiled the figures as it discussed infrastructure and sewerage projects in the pipeline.

It was also updated on development and infrastructure projects which have been completed.

According to updated figures, new roads covering 32km have been constructed in Riffa, A'ali, Dair and Salmabad. A 24km-long sewerage network has also been completed at Ma'ameer industrial zone, Sitra, Eker and Shahrakan.

Fourteen projects worth BD14.5 million ($38.2 million) were awarded in the first quarter of this year. Contractors have also been invited to bid for 16 other projects worth BD5.7 million.

Rebuilding old government flats

Meanwhile, a plan to demolish old government apartment buildings and rebuild them with twice the number of new flats was unveiled yesterday.

Housing Minister Bassem Al Hamer announced the plan during a Press conference following the weekly Cabinet meeting at Gudaibiya Palace.

It involves knocking down buildings containing 1,912 apartments in 10 locations across the country and replacing them with around 4,000 new flats.

The properties are due to be bulldozed by the end of the year as authorities seek to tackle lengthy waiting lists for government homes.

Al Hamer explained the scheme was part of a strategy to construct taller buildings, reducing the amount of space required on the ground.

"We are keen on introducing more vertical housing projects to accommodate families on our waiting lists and there are 4,000 families waiting for new apartments," said Al Hamer.

Al Hamer said tenders for new ministry housing projects were open to GCC contractors. – TradeArabia News Service




Tags: Bahrain | Cabinet | revamp | Housing Ministry |

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