Plans are afoot to renovate the Old Airport Area

The Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning (MMUP) will soon review the planning scheme of the Old Airport Area, especially the areas off the commercial street, which entails  demolition of old buildings.

Sheikha al-Jufairi, Central Municipal Council member for the Old Airport Area constituency, told local daily Arrayah that the demolition committee and the central planning office at MMUP are conducting a study of the area.

Also, the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has affirmed that it would finalise the layout for developing the area in June, and work would begin in August. Work will include completion of the infrastructure projects such as lighting, turning temporary streets into permanent ones and laying of pavements.

Al-Jufairi said: “A long time ago, I asked that the vast vacant spaces in the Old Airport Area be used for developing a garden and playground, but the response was that these plots were the private property of various individuals, especially in Area 45.”

She suggested that competent public entities should communicate with the owners of these plots to purchase them and turn them into useful public recreation areas.

Al-Jufairi pointed out that the plots have been lying vacant for years after being sold from one person to the other hoping for higher value. “I hoped that MMUP would co-ordinate this issue with the land owners and try to purchase them at reasonable prices, so they could be put to constructive use.”