An overview of the new garden project in Muharraq.

Bahrain to start work on $63m hitech park

Manama, 1 hours, 19 minutes
ago

Work is set to start on a BD24 million ($63.2 million) project to create a state-of-the-art public park in the Muharraq area of Bahrain following a U-turn by councillors., said a report citing a senior government official.

Located near Bahrain International Airport, the park will include Bahrain’s first full-size ice arena to be built a cost of BD4 million, an aquarium and aquamarine centre, a major karting track and spectacular amusement rides.

The garden has an area of 93,000sqm, but under artist’s impressions that may have changed, buildings will be constructed on 111,000sqm, which will also include large green areas, restaurants, a fitness club and gym, an elderly centre and family resting areas.

Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Minister Dr Juma Al Ka’abi said designs for the Muharraq Grand Garden had been altered amid fears it could be heavily commercialised, said a report in the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

He said concerns raised by the Muharraq Municipal Council had been taken into account and the investor had made necessary changes for the project to go ahead.

The project will also feature a commercial complex on the side of the airport which will be leased to airlines, car rental companies and cargo providers, and will include a business centre, banks and insurance offices.

The Bahraini investor signed an initial contract with the ministry in August, but councillors threatened to have it revoked unless modifications were carried out.

“We have to strike a balance between an investment and the true value of a garden and we had no intentions of passing the project without that happening,” said Dr Al Ka’abi.

“As a first step, I cancelled plans for a hotel and furnished apartments before the initial contract was even signed and have asked recently for greenery. Accordingly new designs were drawn and they will be unveiled when the new contract is signed within a few days,” he added.-TradeArabia News Service

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Bahrain | airport | garden |