Manama : Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister, chaired the 308th meeting of the Ministerial Committee for Development Projects and Infrastructure.
The committee emphasised the importance of expanding partnerships between the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture and the private sector, that ensures optimal investment in municipal lands. It also expressed its appreciation to Wael bin Nasser Al Mubarak, Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, for his inspection visit to the Isa Town commercial complex project, marking the completion of construction works and the announcement of its imminent opening.
It reviewed procedures taken to facilitate all requirements for the successful conduct of the Ashoora season, including the readiness of municipal services. It expressed appreciation to Minister Al Mubarak for inaugurating the main operations centre for cleaning services in the Capital during the season, as well as for inspecting cleanliness preparations and visiting a number of sites and ma’atams.
The committee also commended the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture for its announcement on regulating food truck operations, as well as decisions issued by the Chairmen of the Capital Trustees Board and municipal councils regarding regulations governing work in public (central) and popular markets.
It highlighted the importance of the topics discussed at the extraordinary meeting of the GCC Ministerial Council of Transport Ministers, held under the chairmanship of Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, as part of Bahrain’s current presidency of the Council. These included discussions on developments in the GCC railway project and efforts to accelerate its implementation by December 2030.
Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah directed the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications to take the necessary steps to complete the legislative and regulatory requirements for the railway sector in the Kingdom, and to present the outcomes to the committee at a subsequent meeting.
The committee highlighted the importance of continuing the implementation of infrastructure development projects and enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of essential services to meet citizens’ aspirations, including electricity and water projects. It expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Electricity and Water Affairs and the Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) for inaugurating the Al Ramli Substation projects for electricity transmission at 220/66 kV.
It also expressed anticipation for the development of King Faisal Highway and the expansion of Salman Industrial City, following the signing of financing agreements for these two strategic projects between the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Islamic Development Bank.
The committee further commended progress achieved in the Muharraq City Development Project, with construction works in the first phase reaching 73 per cent completion and several supporting facilities being finalised. It also expressed appreciation to Amna bint Ahmed Al Rumaihi, Minister of Housing and Urban Planning for her field inspection of the project’s progress.
In addition, the committee welcomed the launch of a set of advanced digital government services by the Survey and Land Registration Bureau (SLRB) and EWA, as part of ongoing government efforts towards comprehensive digital transformation across all services to streamline procedures and provide efficient services to citizens.
The committee reviewed items on its agenda, including the latest developments in addressing the phenomenon of street vendors and unlicensed informal markets. Statistics showed the effectiveness of inspection campaigns, which contributed to reducing the number of street vendors in 2025 compared to 2024.
It also reviewed the progress of the traffic flow enhancement plan, which includes 14 strategic projects covering road expansion, bridges, and tunnels, in addition to immediate traffic solutions such as new lanes, additional turning lanes, and linking traffic signals to the traffic control system, alongside the updated traffic improvement strategy.
The committee also reviewed proposed marine sites for artificial reefs, and tasked the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications to coordinate with the SLRB, the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA), and the Supreme Council for Environment (SCE), to assess these sites in a way that enhances marine environmental protection and supports their operation as attractive diving tourism locations.
