HRH Premier, HRH Crown Prince review development projects

Manama, Aug. 18 (BNA): His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa held a work meeting with His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister. The meeting was devoted to reviewing a number of on-going mega development projects that will revitalise the national economy, develop society and meet the present and future needs of the citizens. The projects, costing $ 2.2 billion and funded by the government and the Gulf Development Programme, include mainly the Bahrain International Airport Modernisation Programme and many development projects that will be implemented soon in the fields of housing, electricity and water infrastructure, sanitation, education, social development, roads and the design of sites for the new cities. In this regard, HRH Premier and HRH the Crown Prince reviewed the technical designs and time frames of the mega projects, as well as their implementation stages. They also discussed putting them up to tender, awarding the tenders and the approval of their financing. HRH Premier issued instructions to expedite the implementation of the development projects featuring in the government’s list of priorities and strategic action plan in order to implement His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s directives in this regard. The two leaders stressed the importance of maintaining the aesthetic aspects of the areas overlooking the main roads. In this context, HRH the Prime Minister issued directives to study the establishment of projects with sea fronts to beautify the water area stretching from the Khalifa bin Salman Bridge southwards and the Shaikh Isa bin Salman Bridge northwards, and provide the necessary facilities. HRH the Prime Minister and HRH the Crown Prince were then informed about the Bahrain International Airport Modernisation Programme (AMP) through a presentation staged by the Transportation and Telecommunications Minister Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed. AMP will be implemented through seven projects with a total value of $ 815 million, and will be put up to tender next December. Expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2019, the project includes a new terminal building, 24 aircraft boarding bridges, passenger lounges and airport aprons. Once completed, the new-look airport will accommodate about 17 million passengers, instead of just four million ones now. HRH Premier and HRH the Crown Prince were informed about the AMP’s stages and budget, as well as the designs of the new terminal and other facilities.