Manama: Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister, presided over the 308th session of the Ministerial Committee for Development Projects and Infrastructure. The meeting emphasized the importance of fostering partnerships between the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture and the private sector to optimize investment in municipal lands. The committee expressed gratitude to Wael bin Nasser Al Mubarak, the Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, for his inspection visit to the Isa Town commercial complex project, marking the completion of its construction and its imminent opening announcement.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the committee reviewed the procedures implemented to facilitate the Ashoora season, ensuring the readiness of municipal services. It appreciated Minister Al Mubarak for inaugurating the main operations center for cleaning services in the Capital during the season and for his inspection of cleanliness preparations across various sites and ma'atams.
The committee praised the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture for regulating food truck operations and acknowledged the decisions made by the Chairmen of the Capital Trustees Board and municipal councils related to regulations governing work in public and popular markets. It underscored the significance of discussions held at the extraordinary meeting of the GCC Ministerial Council of Transport Ministers, chaired by Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa. The discussions focused on developments in the GCC railway project, with efforts to accelerate its implementation by December 2030.
Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah directed the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications to undertake necessary steps to complete legislative and regulatory requirements for the railway sector within the Kingdom, with outcomes to be presented at a subsequent committee meeting. The committee also emphasized the continuation of infrastructure development projects, enhancing essential services' efficiency and sustainability to meet citizens' aspirations, including electricity and water projects.
The committee 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. It anticipates the development of King Faisal Highway and the expansion of Salman Industrial City, following the signing of financing agreements between the Government of Bahrain and the Islamic Development Bank.
Furthermore, the committee commended the progress in the Muharraq City Development Project, noting the first phase's 73 percent completion and the finalization of several supporting facilities. Appreciation was extended to Amna bint Ahmed Al Rumaihi, Minister of Housing and Urban Planning, for her field inspection of the project's progress.
The committee welcomed the launch 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. It reviewed the latest developments on street vendor and unlicensed informal market issues, noting the effectiveness of inspection campaigns that reduced street vendor numbers in 2025 compared to 2024.
The committee also discussed the progress of the traffic flow enhancement plan, which includes 14 strategic projects covering road expansion, bridges, and tunnels, as well as immediate traffic solutions. Additionally, it reviewed proposed sites for artificial reefs, tasking the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications to coordinate with relevant authorities to assess these sites for marine environmental protection and diving tourism.