Samaher Saif Al-Yazal
The Chairman of the Southern Governorate Municipal Council, Abdullah Abdul Latif, revealed a proposal to establish a walkway and commercial shops (kiosks) around the Wadi Al Buhair water tank located between Blocks (934) and (937) in the Northern Riffa area, as part of the Council’s efforts to develop public facilities and improve the quality of life in the residential neighborhoods in the Governorate, which received unanimous approval from the Municipal Council.
Abdul Latif explained that the proposal came in response to the needs of the people in the area, which is witnessing significant urban growth as a result of the increasing housing projects, pointing out that the area currently lacks a walkway, public park, or commercial stores that serve the residents.
The Chairman of the Council said that the idea of the project is to create a full-service walkway surrounding the Wadi Al-Bahir water reservoir, which includes a designated path for walking and running and shaded seating areas, in addition to establishing kiosks and small shops that provide daily goods and services to the people.
He added that the goal of the project is to encourage the residents of the region to practice sports and physical activity through walking, running, and various sporting activities, because of their importance in promoting public health and preventing chronic diseases, in addition to creating a social outlet for families and their children in a safe and prepared environment.
He stated that the project will contribute to increasing the municipality’s revenues by offering bids to rent commercial sites, in addition to providing job opportunities for Bahraini youth through small and medium enterprises, stressing that this type of project enhances the concept of community partnership and investment in public facilities for the benefit of everyone.
He explained that among the operational proposals is that the project be offered to local investors through a public bidding system, with the investor responsible for constructing, managing, and maintaining the kiosks in exchange for a nominal fee for the municipality, under the direct supervision and follow-up of the competent municipal authorities to ensure the quality of services and public cleanliness on the site.
Abdul Latif stressed that the area is in dire need of establishing a fully-serviced walkway that will serve as a natural outlet for the people and a distinctive destination for sports and family activities, noting that the project will also contribute to enhancing the city’s cultural appearance and improving the aesthetic landscape in North Riffa.
He added: “Having a walkway with these specifications around the Wadi Al-Bahir reservoir will create an opportunity for social interaction and communication among the people of the region, which will strengthen community ties and make the site an attractive destination for families and youth alike.”
Abdul Latif stressed that the Southern Municipal Council continues to support quality projects that directly affect the lives of citizens, whether through developing municipal services, or by strengthening partnerships with the private sector to provide innovative and sustainable solutions, noting that this project represents a practical model of integrating roles between the community, the municipality, and the investment sector to serve the people and improve the quality of life in the governorate.
The Council unanimously approved the recommendation to address the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture and the concerned authorities, to study the possibility of implementing the project in accordance with the points mentioned in the technical study of the proposal, in preparation for including it in the future development plans for the Southern Governorate.
