Bahrain's Ministry of Works, Municipality Affairs and Urban Planning has announced the opening of a new walkway in the Busaiteen area built at an investment of BD2 million ($5.3 million).

It was inaugurated by Deputy Prime Minister and the chairman of the Ministerial Committee for Development and Infrastructure Projects Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa yesterday (February 11) in conjunction with Bahrain Sports Day celebrations.

This occasion is a perfect opportunity to remind people of the importance of sport for the health, stated Shaikh Khalid in the presence of Minister of Works, Municipality Affairs and Urban Planning Engineer Essam bin Abdullah Khalaf, Electricity and Water Affairs Minister Engineer Wael bin Nasser Al Mubarak and other senior officials.

Shaikh Khalid stressed the importance accorded by the leadership to a healthy lifestyle sector, pointing out at the cabinet’s decision to allocate a half work day on February 11 to enable public sector employees to take part in various sporting activities, thus underlining its keenness to boost the role of sport as a culture.

It also reflects the government’s commitment to providing services and programmes aimed at promoting people’s health, he stated.

The Busaiteen walkway is one of the key strategic projects carried out by the Ministry of Works, Municipality Affairs and Urban Planning, said Khalaf.

The new walkway extends over a 2-km stretch and will include a public square, green spaces besides family outlets, restaurants and other facilities, including a 400-car park facility, said the statement from the ministry.

The project, which uses clean and renewable energy, comprises 80 fitness devices and includes many services and recreational facilities, it added.-TradeArabia News Service