Plans for a long-awaited central market in Hamad Town are moving forward again, with construction scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of this year.
The long-awaited project is expected to take around 16 months to complete following site mobilisation.
The Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry revealed that it has recently co-ordinated with the Eskan (Housing) Bank to develop the land allocated for the market, with ownership transfer procedures currently underway to enable the bank to assume responsibility for delivering the project.
Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Minister Wael Al Mubarak said the move marks a decisive step in pushing the project from prolonged planning into execution.
“The target is to commence implementation in the fourth quarter, with a construction period of approximately 16 months from site handover,” the minister said.
“We have moved into practical co-ordination with the Eskan Bank to ensure the land is technically prepared and the project delivery is professionally managed,” he added.
The details were revealed in response to a parliamentary question by area MP Jameel Hassan. The project has evolved after earlier private-sector attempts failed to materialise.
Since the bank has been tasked with developing the project, preparatory procedures have already started. An initial technical and financial feasibility study has been completed to define the project scope and operational requirements.
The bank is now finalising its internal procedures to appoint a specialised consultancy office to prepare engineering designs and provide technical supervision, paving the way for the execution phase.
“Once ownership transfer is completed, and approvals and licences from the relevant authorities are secured, the design phase is expected to be completed during the second quarter of this year. This will be followed by the procedural requirements needed to begin implementation,” Mr Al Mubarak added.
Mr Al Mubarak
The ministry traced the project back to 2018, when the designated plot in Block 1212, Hamad Town, was first put out to public tender as part of a strategy to involve the private sector in developing market services. The site spans approximately 120,000 square metres, making it one of the largest dedicated market plots in the Northern Governorate.
However, after bids were evaluated and the project was awarded, the investor failed to complete the required contractual documentation. In co-ordination with the Tender Board, the procedures were halted and the tender was cancelled due to the absence of other compliant bids.
A second tender was floated between November 2019 and January 2020. Following evaluation, the project was awarded to another investor and a contract was signed in November 2020 for a 35-year term, including a 24-month grace period to allow the investor to complete designs, master plans and obtain necessary approvals.
As the investor faced challenges in completing traffic studies and site preparation procedures, an addendum was signed on March 7, 2023, granting an additional 18-month extension to the grace period. This extended the total period to 36 years and six months.
Despite this, the project did not advance to construction.
The minister indicated that assigning the project to the bank represents a shift from reliance on private investment timelines to a publicly managed delivery mechanism aimed at ensuring execution.
“This project represents an important step towards enhancing the quality of services provided to residents of Hamad Town. The new delivery model ensures that the project proceeds without further delay and in line with technical and operational standards required for a central market serving a large residential population,” Mr Al Mubarak said.
“Once completed, the Hamad Town Central Market is expected to become a key commercial and community hub, easing pressure on informal trading areas while providing an organised, shaded and modern facility for vendors and shoppers alike.”
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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