Work on a BD20 million ($52.7 million) theme park that includes Bahrain's first full-size ice arena and indoor ski slope will go ahead as planned next month, said a senior government official.

It comes after a municipal council shelved the project last week, fearing it would damage key sewage and water networks located at the site.

Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Minister Dr Juma Al Ka'abi told the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication, the radical overhaul of the Muharraq Grand Garden will not damage the grid.

He said an agreement has been reached with the Works Ministry to divert sewage and water pipes during construction to avoid any disruptions to the network.

The project already suffered two years of delays, but finally got the green light after Dr Al Ka'abi and Bahraini investor Fouad Shuwaitar signed an agreement in October.

The council had earlier voted to axe the proposal, but made a U-turn three days before the deal was signed when a new consortium came in to fund the development. Councillors were initially hesitant to give Shuwaitar the go-ahead after a group of GCC partners withdrew from the project.

He later joined forces with the India-based company Golden Globe Trading and Consultancy Services.

The project, near Bahrain International Airport, will include a three-storey shopping centre, business centre and a multipurpose convention and exhibition centre.

It will also feature an indoor sports arena, outdoor sports grounds, an aquatic museum, karting track, mosque and an elderly home and is expected to be ready in around two-and-a-half years.

Additionally, the park, covering an area of 93,618 sq m, will have restaurants, a fitness club and gym, family rest areas and amusement rides. Plans to turn the park into a miniature Disneyland were announced in 2007 but the project was later scrapped. – TradeArabia News Service