Greater Amman Municipality begins the fifth phase of the Mahatta project by demolishing 17 buildings
Amman3 min read
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The Greater Amman Municipality began, on Tuesday, the implementation of the fifth phase of the new Mahatta complex project, which includes the demolition of about 17 buildings encroaching on the intersection of Al-Jaish and Prince Rashid streets, as part of a project that involves the demolition of about 100 buildings across the first six phases.
The Executive Director of Amman Neighborhood Development and Tourism Paths, Mohammad Abu Zaitoun, told "Al-Mamlaka" that the completion of the fifth and sixth phases is scheduled for 2027, noting that the buildings are being evacuated and demolished in agreement with their owners after compensating them through donations and housing allowances, without any disputes, while the ownership of some lands belongs to the Municipality and others to citizens who have been compensated for them.
The development and rehabilitation works of the Mahatta area come within the comprehensive urban plan to develop the area, as it is one of the main gateways to the capital.
For public safety purposes, the Municipality is working to evacuate buildings adjacent to the demolition site for only three days, after forming a public safety committee to inspect the neighboring buildings before and after the demolition.
The fifth phase works include the implementation of an integrated package of traffic improvements, including improving the infrastructure of Prince Rashid Street, which includes the implementation of a complete rainwater drainage network, lighting works, construction and rehabilitation of sidewalks, paving works, adding another lane, and creating urban spaces that improve the urban landscape and traffic safety.
The Municipality had completed the fourth phase, which included the expansion of the upper Al-Jaish Street and the removal of buildings located within its regulatory width; as it demolished 6 buildings at its beginning, and completed the demolition of 12 other buildings after completing legal procedures and compensating the owners and tenants.
The first three phases included the construction of a park, a playground, and the improvement of traffic movement on Rafifan Al-Majali Street for a length of 500 meters opposite the Mahatta bridge, while the fourth and fifth phases aim to regulate traffic movement and create urban spaces.
On Al-Talyani Street, the Municipality is preparing a square adjacent to the site as part of the "Amman Walkway" project, to be a point for public transport, tourist transport buses, service vehicles, and service for visitors to the walkway, which extends from Ras Al-Ain through central Amman to the Citadel, with the rehabilitation of sidewalks and squares and the placement of identification signs for archaeological and tourist sites using QR codes.
The Municipality also provided alternative sites for merchants near the original site after coordination meetings, to maintain the continuity of their businesses and rights.
Concurrently, the Municipality has begun implementing the Mahatta complex, which is being executed in partnership between the Municipality and the Ministry of Transport, at a cost of 33 million dinars, on an area of about 45,000 square meters, and includes three floors dedicated to Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) on the Amman-Zarqa line, public transport within Amman, and commercial and investment activities.
The complex includes the expansion of King Abdullah I Street, dedicated bus lanes, and connecting it to the Raghadan terminal and Istiqlal Street, in addition to smart transport systems, elevators, escalators, and facilities adapted for people with disabilities and the elderly.
The works include the construction of sidewalks, lighting, rainwater drainage networks, public squares, parking lots, and green spaces, while the implementation period takes two years and requires the relocation of water and electricity networks located under the site.
