A LARGE-SCALE demolition and debris clearance operation has visibly resumed in Isa Town following urgent government intervention, months after partially demolished buildings were left exposed and unattended.
Cranes and heavy trucks returned to the site this week, acting on directives from His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to the Housing and Urban Planning Ministry to accelerate demolition and clean-up works.
The renewed momentum follows persistent calls from the Southern Municipal Council, which had warned of escalating health and safety risks due to rubble, pests and unsecured structures at the old social housing blocks.
Isa Town councillor Abdulla Darraj said residents could finally see tangible progress after months of concern.
“Today, we can clearly see cranes operating and trucks removing debris. This is the kind of urgent action residents were waiting for,” he said.
“The resumption of work has brought relief to families who were living next to what had effectively become abandoned and unsafe sites.”
Mr Darraj stressed that the visible activity on the ground was critical to restoring a sense of safety in the neighbourhood.
“For months, rubble remained in place, pests spread into homes and these buildings became vulnerable to misuse. Seeing the work restart is not just a construction matter – it is a vital step towards protecting public health and restoring order.”
He believes that the renewed operations showed that the concerns raised by councillors and residents had been heard.
“This movement on site shows responsiveness at the highest level,” he added. “It sends a message that residents’ safety is a priority.”
Southern Municipal Council chairman Abdulla Abdullatif welcomed the breakthrough too, describing the return of equipment and workers as a turning point.
“What we are witnessing now is real, on-the-ground action,” he said. “The presence of machinery and crews clearing the debris is a reassuring sight for the community. This is the decisive response we had been calling for.”
Mr Abdullatif said swift execution was essential to ensure that the long-term redevelopment vision does not come at the expense of residents’ immediate wellbeing. “Plans for modern housing are important, but what matters today is that these unsafe remnants are being removed without delay,” he added. “The pace we are seeing now must continue until the site is fully secured and cleared.”
The demolition is part of a broader redevelopment plan targeting ageing housing blocks in Isa Town, where 103 old apartments overlooking Road 1532 are being removed to make way for a new residential strip that will include 720 modern apartments within an integrated community aligned with the future Bahrain Metro route.
Residents told the GDN that the return of cranes and trucks hopefully signalled more than just ‘stop-and-start’ progress but will prove to be a visible step towards ‘transforming a troubled site into the foundation of a new neighbourhood’.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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