Authorities have been urged to fast-track the revamp of Old Manama Suq and reveal the designs chosen for the iconic project.
Capital Trustees Board chairman Saleh Tarradah said it has been more than six months since a winning bidder was selected by the Tender Board to present designs for the new-look marketplace.
He criticised the tardy pace of the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA), stressing the need to showcase the designs to interested parties – government and non-government – and speed up the facelift of the tourist attraction.
The GDN earlier reported that eight bids had been submitted to the Tender Board for the design and supervision of the marketplace. Seven bids ranging between 0 fils and BD277,080 were accepted and one suspended, with Ansari Engineering Services selected with an estimate of BD70,090.
Original plans to give the suq a facelift were announced by BTEA in 2016 at a cost of BD6 million. It included renovating the signage and store-fronts of 275 shops located on four main streets in the suq – Bab Al Bahrain Avenue, Shaikh Abdulla Avenue, Al Tijjar Avenue and Crown Prince Avenue – and expanding the Wi-Fi network. This followed a study by British expert Hank Dittmar, of Urban Futures, who helped prepare new plans for the suq, blending modernity with tradition.
“The world has seen vast changes in how traditional markets should look like, what is attractive and what appeals to locals and tourists,” Mr Tarradah pointed out.
“We do not want to tear down the market and replace it with something from the moon, but we need to ensure modernity meets tradition in the new architecture and landscaping.
“I believe the winning bidder has presented a draft design that suits BTEA’s vision for the marketplace and there should be no delays announcing plans for the next six months,” he added, stressing the need to reveal the blueprint for the suq.
Mr Tarradah highlighted the role of artificial intelligence and virtual reality in uplifting the market on par with international standards.
“The market should have a virtual view with details of each shop revealed through QR code, URL link or any other technological advancement,” he said.
“Shops should be numbered one, two, three and so on, so people would know where they are and how much it would take to reach a particular shopping destination within the suq.
“Such a feature would also be a great advantage for tourists, especially those arriving on cruise ships, as they have a limited time to tour the kingdom and may end up in the wrong direction.”
He also called for more innovations to transform the suq into a world-class attraction.
“Clearly, the suq is attractive with a wide range of goods and services, but giving it an edge to compete with other GCC markets, will carry it into the future as the best regional traditional market,” said Mr Tarradah, who is also a member of the Manama Suq Development Committee.
“We don’t need unified signage at this point of time, there were varying types over the years, we just need something that is up to the point and showcases the suq in the best shape possible.
“The suq’s simplicity is what made it iconic, nothing lavish or fancy, is necessary.”
The 2016 revamp plan included turning the old section of the market into a pedestrian zone, with transportation access for cycles, golf carts and environment-friendly auto rickshaws, also known as tuk-tuks.
The GDN reported earlier that a proposal by MP Ahmed Al Salloom, who is also a BCCI board member, to turn the suq into a vehicle-free zone has been taken into account by the government.
The proposal aims to tackle heavy congestion and pollution in the suq. There are also plans for galleries and workshops for traditional handicrafts, live performances, additional car parks and a strip for cafés and shops.
A proposal to include solar panels to be used as shades across the main parts of the suq that could also generate electricity for air conditioners and lighting has been presented by Mr Tarradah.
The proposals come as the Old Town Manama is vying for World Heritage Site status as it was named on a tentative list to be considered for Unesco nomination alongside two other sites – Hawar Islands and the Awali Oil Settlement.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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