Manama: Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister, chaired the 309th meeting of the Ministerial Committee for Development Projects and Infrastructure. The committee highlighted achievements from the recently concluded fourth session of the sixth legislative term and expressed aspirations for future successes under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and directives from His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the committee praised the cooperation among government service entities, the Capital Trustees Board, and municipal councils. It emphasized the importance of conferences in digital infrastructure development, commending the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture for the Bahrain Smart Cities Conference 2026. The event, featuring public and private sector participation, showcased smart city technologies and aimed to produce effective recommendations.
The meeting also noted progress in the Bahrain International Airport Access Roads Development Project, with bridge deck concreting works reaching 47% completion. The Ministry of Works and the General Directorate of Traffic collaborated on operating 42 new parking meters in the Diplomatic Area, with plans to expand installation across the Kingdom following evaluation.
Efforts to enhance digital transformation were recognized, particularly the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning's shift to electronic correspondence for government letters required for connecting housing units to utilities. This initiative aims to streamline procedures and improve service efficiency.
The committee approved a draft law to regulate the railway sector, advancing the legislative framework for the GCC railway network, and tasked the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications with circulating the draft for feedback. Amendments to the Real Estate Sector Regulation Law were also approved, with the Real Estate Regulatory Authority reviewing proposals to ensure alignment with best practices.
Technical aspects of the King Faisal Highway Development Project were reviewed, directing the Ministry of Works to proceed according to the timetable while conducting further traffic studies. The committee also considered advancements in detecting construction changes and violations using artificial intelligence, along with a tree monitoring platform, both developed in collaboration with the Survey and Land Registration Bureau and the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture.