Construction work is under way on 3,895 houses in two major housing projects, Northern Town and East Hidd in Bahrain, it has been revealed.

They are among 25,000 units scheduled for completion within the next four years in five housing projects across Bahrain, which also include East Sitra, Southern and Al Ramli, said Housing Minister Bassem Al Hamar, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

"Bahrain's new housing projects, which include the Northern Town, East Hidd, East Sitra, Southern Housing Project and Al Ramli Housing Project, are the base for 25,000 listed in the government's plan for the next four years," said Al Hamar.

"The number of units under construction has reached 3,895 with a completion rate of between 10 to 90 per cent.

"The ministry is putting all its efforts towards increasing the productivity in its various housing projects, specially those in new cities to guarantee work completion in line with our timeframe.

"The timeframe is in accordance with His Majesty King Hamad's order to deliver 40,000 housing units.

Al Hamar explained that of 3,408 houses being built in the Northern Town, 530 were already completed pending infrastructure services.

"Those 530 houses are 90 per cent completed, while 316 units are 30 per cent completed and 577 units are 10 per cent completed," he added.

"In terms of co-operating with the private sector in the Northern Town, Islands 13 and 14 are witnessing the execution of a total of 1,985 units in partnership with Naseej company - of which 1,618 homes have been allocated for social housing and 367 units for economic housing, with priority given to the names in our waiting list."

Financing for some of the housing projects has still not been confirmed, with Al Hamar waiting for the government to finalise the national budget for this year and the next.

"The ministry is waiting for the budget to be studied by parliament so that we can approve the budget for the listed projects in various parts of Bahrain," he said.

"The amount of money suggested indicates the government's keenness to support the housing sector and is a base for the completion of the 25,000 units.

"Through the budget and the Gulf Development Programme, the ministry will be able to achieve the government's vision to progress in a short period of time." - TradeArabia News Service