KUWAIT CITY, May 4: The members of the Municipal Council Sharifa Al- Shalfan and Abdullatif Al-Daei yesterday presented a proposal to redevelop the Shuwaikh Industrial Area by focusing on redesigning and developing the streets, sidewalks, public spaces, services, and infrastructure in the Shuwaikh Industrial Area No. 1, provided that it includes, at least, Streets No. 4, 5 and 6. The preamble of the proposal referred to the issuance of a previous decision by the Municipal Council regarding the Shuwaikh Craft and Commercial Service Area to create some activities for the area.

Some of its plots, especially the Shuwaikh Industrial Area 1, became characterized by a commercial and recreational nature, which led to a change in the type of its patrons. It stressed that the proposal coincides with this change, as it was supposed to redevelop the area’s streets, sidewalks, and public spaces surrounding its buildings according to an integrated vision for their development, and to avoid problems of pressure on services.

The preamble stated that the absence of development resulted in random solutions that lack methods of urban and aesthetic development in the region, especially vehicular traffic with the increasing number of visitors to the area and activities that encourage movement in the area on foot. Therefore, it has become necessary to redesign it in accordance with this change. The proposal presents a modern, sustainable vision that includes ten basic components, which are re-studying vehicle routes, traffic, and parking, infrastructure adapted for pedestrians and any other means of transportation, pedestrian crossing paths, ease of access for people with special needs, shades, planting and greening, a unified character for directional signs, urban furniture and lighting, as well as specifying the materials used and finishing materials for streets, sidewalks, urban furniture, etc., and any other components intended to serve the project.

Concluded
The proposal concluded by emphasizing the necessity of coordination with the Ministry of Public Works, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy, and other relevant authorities. Meanwhile, the Municipal Council, under the chairmanship of Abdullah Al-Mahri, is scheduled to convene its meeting on Monday. Among the key agenda items for discussion are the objections raised by Minister of Municipality, Dr. Noura Al- Mashaan, concerning the Municipality’s proposed amendments to the regulations and requirements for private housing in building codes, reports Al- Jarida daily.

During the session, the Municipality will deliberate on Kuwait Petroleum Corporation’s appeal to incorporate a commercial component into the oil sector complex building in Shuwaikh. Additionally, considerations include requests to allocate state property to plots in Kuwait City’s Al- Qibla area (Block No. 1), as well as the Ministry of Interior’s proposal to establish surface parking lots in the front yard of the Rawda Police Station within Plot No. 2. Another significant matter up for discussion is the development request for the JW Marriott Hotel located in Kuwait City’s Al-Qibla District, Plot No. 13. Furthermore, the Council will address a proposal by members Al-Farsi, Farah Al-Roumi, Sharifa Al- Shalfan, Abdul Latif Al-Daei, and Ismail Behbehani, advocating for the allocation of a site for a recycling materials facility.

Member Al-Shalfan’s proposals regarding recycling plastic bottles and preserving beaches will also be reviewed. Additionally, the Council will examine the Central Agency for Information Technology’s request to allocate part of the site of the Umm Al-Haiman Post Center, previously Umm Al-Hayman, for the establishment of the national data center. This center will focus on business continuity and disaster management. President of the Municipal Council Abdullah Al-Mahri’s proposal to expand activities in the Ardiya Industrial Area and Vice Chairman Khaled Al-Mutairi’s suggestion to assign parking lots adjacent to private housing plots in all Kuwait areas to plot owners will also be on the agenda.

By Enas Awad
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff