More than 1,000 social homes in Sitra are being distributed this week as part of Royal directives to fast-track housing projects.
It is part of the first phase of the BD260 million East Sitra Town, which once completed will have more than 3,000 housing units and plots of land along with other infrastructure facilities and services.
Housing Minister Bassem Al Hamer said the distribution of more than 1,000 homes as part of the first phase started yesterday and will continue until mid-next week.
“A team was formed to identify housing projects that will be distributed as well as the list of beneficiaries according to the criteria set by the housing services distribution system,” he said.
“The distribution of units of the first phase of the East Sitra Town will extend until mid-next week and the inclusion of this project follows the signing of contracts for its implementation with a major Chinese construction company.”
The GDN previously reported that according to the agreement with China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC), the East Sitra Town will provide more than 3,000 housing units and plots of land in three phases.
The general plan for the town includes all facilities and services such as health, educational and commercial facilities as well as places of worship and shopping malls.
It will also include a fuel station, a police station and a Coastguard office as well as youth centres and centres for the care of elderly citizens, along with public parks and gardens and basic services such as electricity stations, water tanks, a water treatment facility and telecommunication towers, and a 6.6km coastal waterfront.
“The construction of the (remaining) units and the secondary infrastructure of the project is scheduled to start in the coming weeks,” added the minister.
“The number of housing units for the first phase of the project exceed 1,000 units and the ministry has already commenced the distribution of some of these units following the signing of the contract, and we are currently working on completing the distribution of houses in this phase.”
This follows directives issued by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier, last week to fast-track housing projects and to distribute 5,000 housing units across the four governorates.
“The houses to be distributed following Royal directives will cover all of Bahrain’s governorates and no efforts are spared by the ministry to ensure this is done in a timely manner,” stressed the minister.
In July last year the GDN reported that infrastructure work worth BD245m was being carried out at five new housing towns across the country.
Affordable
The projects include roadworks, pedestrian crossings, bridges, sewage networks and electricity connections along with other facilities and technical requirements at Salman Town, Khalifa Town, East Hidd Town, East Sitra Town and Al Ramli District, along with social housing expansions at existing residential areas set to serve a population of 240,000.
In December last year, it emerged that Bahrain built 24,601 social housing units over a four-year period at a cost of BD1.404 billion.
At the time, 3,408 Bahrainis had also acquired their homes from the Mazaya programme, which provides affordable finances in partnership with banks.
reem@gdn.com.bh
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