AN initiative to launch a ‘Manama Restoration Plan’ aimed at returning the nation’s capital to its former glory is underway.
The Capital Trustees Board is working with the Housing and Urban Planning Ministry and the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (Baca) to introduce out-of-the-box innovative housing solutions and provide much-needed facilities and services, while preserving and protecting properties of interest, it has been revealed.
Board vice-chairwoman Khulood Al Qattan said other concerned ministries and government bodies have been also contacted to look into ways of implementing modern infrastructure and community projects.
In October, His Majesty King Hamad had issued a Royal order, at the opening of the National Assembly’s second session of the sixth legislative term, to develop Muharraq.
“Muharraq is different from Manama in that the original residents are still living there, making it much easier to carry out any restoration or development programme,” said Ms Al Qattan.
“However, Manama and its suburbs such as Hoora, Gudaibiya, Salmaniya, Naim, Ras Ruman, Ghufool, Segaya and Mahooz are densely populated by expat residents which complicates things,” she added.
“Implementing any major housing project would involve acquiring apartment buildings that are currently occupied by expats and their families and then demolishing and rebuilding them for Bahrainis which is an impossible task.
“So, to attract Bahrainis we need out-of-the-box innovative housing solutions and providing much-needed facilities and services, while preserving and protecting properties of interest as in the case of the Southern and Northern Governorates where Bahrainis have moved to.”
The board’s move comes 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.
Ms Al Qattan said that Bahrainis are nowadays only interested in going to Manama for shopping and dining, or to attend religious, social and cultural activities and programmes.
“Manama has continued for decades to be a home for multiple religions and beliefs,” she explained.
“This diverse community that nowadays meets during occasions and events could be used as a platform to liven up Manama to draw back the original residents.
“But, this needs to come with spacious homes, adequate car parking, strong phone and Internet signals and things that are offered in the highest of calibres.”
Strategic Thinking Bloc spokesman MP Khalid Bu Onk earlier this month asked for a Hoora revamp project in which social government homes are built and other infrastructure services are carried out to bring Bahrainis back.
The GDN reported in February this year that properties considered as structures of special importance could be preserved even though they are less than 50 years old under the government’s heritage site lists.
Under amendments to the 1995 Artefacts Protection Law, the Cabinet has been authorised to protect such properties following a case-by-case presentation by the Baca president.
The updated rules would enable the government to declare, if necessary, specific areas in new developments as “sites of cultural value”, helping in their preservation.
The amendments issued through a royal decree by the King during the National Assembly recess last year would see Baca given the power to determine the value of each property in the sea or on land and even those isolated from particular fields.
Baca will also have the power to stop work on any location, block construction or fence off the place until the said area is acquired by the government, within a set time frame.
Baca national heritage director Shaikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa told Capital Trustees Board members at the time that there were plans to preserve the 43-year-old old Bahrain Chamber building in Manama as an example of places of value.
The Bahrain Chamber was originally established in 1939.
Housing and Urban Planning Minister Amna Al Romaihi revealed earlier that the Muharraq Development Plan included developing an area measuring approximately 1.4 million square metres, restoring 16 buildings of heritage value and completing the Pearling Path for cultural and tourism activities.
The plan also envisages increasing the green area in the region and diversifying its afforestation, by providing 72 green squares covering an area of 12,000sqm to plant 100,000 trees, and developing traffic and pedestrian corridors with a length of 48sqm, in addition to providing parking lots to accommodate residents and visitors to the areas.
The minister said the project included construction of 2,000 housing units to meet the aspirations of Bahraini families, pointing out that the ministry will start restoring and building 300 housing units.
Detailed designs will be completed by the end of this month.
Construction work is set to begin in October next year with all project phases completed and delivered by December 2026.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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