Bahrain has started work on a major residential project in the East Sitra region which, on completion, will see the construction of over 3,000 housing units. The project, which is being implemented in three phases, is estimated to cost BD260 million ($684 million).

 

This comes following the directives of HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, as part of the Royal order to build 40,000 housing units, as reflected in the previous and current Government Action Plans.

 

The East Sitra Housing Project is being developed by the Housing Ministry in partnership with the China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC), will house more than 20,000 people. The project is likely to completed over the next six years.

 

This unique Bahraini community located east of Sitra Island will comprise 2,845 housing units and 545 plots on 244 hectares of reclaimed land. 

 

Work on Phase One, comprising 1,055 housing units and associated infrastructure worth $241.2 million, is due for completion in January 2023. 

 

This will be followed by Phase Two, featuring 1,256 houses and 549 plots with associated infrastructure at a total cost of $330.89 million. The work on this phase will begin in July 2023 and is set for completion in December 2025.

 

The third phase, expected to overlap with the last six months of Phase Two, will consist of 534 housing units and associated infrastructure at a total cost of $118.66 million. Work will begin in July 2025 and is likely to be completed in December 2026.

 

Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Ministerial Committee for Development and Infrastructure Projects, Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, lauded His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa for his unwavering interest in meeting the citizens’ aspirations, through providing them with housing services.

 

"This is embodied in the keenness of the government, led by HRH Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to continue implementing the Royal order to build 40,000 housing units, as reflected in the previous and current Government Action Plans," he stated.

 

Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla was at the East Sitra Town Project site, officially giving the go-ahead for the construction works there. 

 

He said that HRH Crown Prince and Prime Minister had already given orders for the launch of the eighth housing town in the kingdom, which adds to the national housing gains, through the establishment of three towns in the previous century, namely the Isa, Hamad and Zayed towns, and four others over the past seven years, including the Khalifa, Salman, East Hidd and Al-Ramli towns. 

 

The four towns have already been opened, and their units are being distributed to beneficiaries, stated the Deputy Premier in the presence of Housing Minister, Bassim bin Yacub Al Hamar, Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning, Essam bin Abdulla Khalaf, Electricity and Water Affairs Minister, Wael bin Nasser Al-Mubarak, Capital Governor, Shaikh Hisham bin Abdulrahman, Chinese Ambassador to Bahrain, Anwar Habibullah, and other senior officials.

 

"The implementation of five housing towns at the same time is a quantum leap in the kingdom’s housing sector, noting that the idea of building towns has proved its success in accommodating the citizens’ demands, and creating modern and socially- homogeneous communities," he added.

 

With its distinguished location and sea front, the project includes roadwork, pedestrian crossings, bridges, sewerage networks and electricity connections along with other facilities and technical requirements. The town also boasts a 2.6-km sea front, sidewalks and 13-km bicycle lanes. 

 

The other key amenities for its 20,640 citizens include schools, kindergartens and nurseries, public parks, kids' playgrounds, houses of worship, health, social and cultural facilities, a youth club, commercial centres, petrol stations, water treatment station and a centre for visitors’ services, he added.-TradeArabia News Service