Latest news with #CapitalTrusteesBoard
Gulf Insider
3 days ago
- Business
- Gulf Insider
Lift Access And Braille Buttons Approved For Taller Buildings
A proposal to require wheelchair-accessible lifts and Braille-labelled buttons in buildings taller than three storeys was approved by the Capital Trustees Board during its yesterday's session. The changes would apply to both public and private buildings. They are intended to make access easier for people with physical or visual impairments, particularly in towers where stairs are not a practical option. Each affected building would need at least one lift wide enough for a wheelchair, with its controls marked in Braille. Daily movement Capital Trustees Board member Dr Bashar Ahmadi, who submitted the proposal, said it aimed to make daily movement safer and more practical for people with disabilities, including visitors to government buildings. During the meeting, board member Mubarak Al Nuaimi said the technical committee recommended limiting the requirement to buildings above five storeys. He added that new buildings should only receive a power connection once they meet the minimum accessibility criteria. Rules Mohammed Al Sahli, Director-General of the Capital Trustees Board, said public buildings such as ministries and state agencies have followed such rules for a decade. Retrofitting older structures remains a challenge, he noted. For private developments, much depends on the commercial priorities of the developer. The proposal will now be shared with the relevant planning bodies. Also read: Runaway Domestic Workers And Illegal Employer Arrested In Labour Law Violation Crackdown
Daily Tribune
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Capital Trustees Board approves mandatory soundproofing proposal for multi-storey flats
A proposal to set soundproofing standards for floors in multi-storey flats was approved by the Capital Trustees Board during its session yesterday. The plan is intended to reduce disturbances in shared buildings and encourage quieter homes. Developers would be required to meet minimum insulation levels between floors, particularly in freehold properties. Dr Bashar Ahmadi, who submitted the proposal, said noise between flats is a common complaint. He pointed to the use of poor construction materials and designs that fail to block sound. The aim, he said, is to bring in standards drawn from practices already used in other parts of the world. Expectations Mubarak Al Nuaimi, who chairs the board's technical committee, said the measure would help set clear expectations for builders and buyers alike. It would also support building managers in handling disputes and allow inspectors to assess compliance more easily. The committee recommended making soundproofing a condition for issuing permits in new freehold developments. Idea Mohammed Al Sahli, Director-General of the Capital Trustees Board, said the idea could benefit buyers but noted that such matters fall under the Urban Planning and Development Authority. He suggested soundproofing could be left as an option, allowing developers to offer both insulated and non-insulated flats. Deputy Chair woman Khalood Al Qattan supported the view that buyers should be free to choose whether they want this feature. Also during the meeting, the board reviewed a report on messages received through the Tawasul platform between September 2024 and May this year. There were 1,823 complaints, 319 enquiries and 39 suggestions.
Daily Tribune
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Lift access and Braille buttons approved for taller buildings
A proposal to require wheelchair-accessible lifts and Braille-labelled buttons in buildings taller than three storeys was approved by the Capital Trustees Board during its yesterday's session. The changes would apply to both public and private buildings. They are intended to make access easier for people with physical or visual impairments, particularly in towers where stairs are not a practical option. Each affected building would need at least one lift wide enough for a wheelchair, with its controls marked in Braille. Daily movement Capital Trustees Board member Dr Bashar Ahmadi, who submitted the proposal, said it aimed to make daily movement safer and more practical for people with disabilities, including visitors to government buildings. During the meeting, board member Mubarak Al Nuaimi said the technical committee recommended limiting the requirement to buildings above five storeys. He added that new buildings should only receive a power connection once they meet the minimum accessibility criteria. Rules Mohammed Al Sahli, Director-General of the Capital Trustees Board, said public buildings such as ministries and state agencies have followed such rules for a decade. Retrofitting older structures remains a challenge, he noted. For private developments, much depends on the commercial priorities of the developer. The proposal will now be shared with the relevant planning bodies.
Daily Tribune
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Tribune
Councillors seek to prioritise Bahrainis in Manama's parking and housing plans
Councillors in Manama have called for special privileges to be granted to Bahraini residents battling daily struggles over parking spaces and overcrowding in the city's central districts. During a Capital Trustees Board meeting, chaired by Vice President Dr Kholoud Al Qattan, members spoke plainly about pressures on neighbourhoods in Manama and Qufool. At the heart of discussions were issues such as congestion, misuse of shared spaces, and unauthorised blocking of parking areas. Dr Al Qattan argued that residents, especially Bahraini families, face genuine difficulties and suggested giving them priority access to parking and housing. She added that it was understandable that local families felt squeezed by the current pressures, and urged practical steps to ease the strain. Lamya Al Fadhala, acting head of the Capital Municipality, admitted the council currently lacked a clear system to manage parking fairly. She recommended a thorough local survey and a system that would favour Bahraini residents over expatriates or caretakers accused of reserving public spaces illegally or even renting them out for profit. Sayed Faisal, the council's administrative coordinator, presented a detailed list of improvements needed in Constituency Two. His suggestions ranged from repairing playgrounds and expanding greenery, to sorting out the chaotic housing situation, clearing blocked pavements, and removing barriers causing traffic snarls. Barriers Addressing illegal parking practices specifically, Khalifa Al Kaabi, acting inspection chief, noted that council inspectors were regularly removing posts, cones, and barriers placed illegally to reserve parking. He clarified that only obstacles set up without official permits from the Ministry of Works were being cleared. Council member Dr Abdulhassan Abbas rounded off discussions by urging colleagues to give renewed attention to Manama's traditional Bahraini character, pressing the council to protect the capital's heritage from fading amid growing urban pressures.
Gulf Insider
16-05-2025
- Business
- Gulf Insider
Al Trial Approved In Manama Public Spaces To Enhance Visitor
A trial run to bring artificial intelligence into one of Manama's public parks has been cleared by the Capital Trustees Board in a move aimed at gathering detailed information on how people use these spaces. The proposal came from Engineer Saleh Taher Tarradah, Chairman of the Board. 'We want reliable data to guide our decisions, who visits the parks, when, how often, and what they do. That will help us make better choices when it comes to services, design, and upkeep,' he told the board. The pilot will draw on cameras, sensors and software to count visitors, track where they go, and estimate age and gender, all without recording names or personal data. It may also tap into mobile signals and wireless networks to build a picture of crowd sizes and popular spots, while respecting Bahrain's privacy laws. Steady numbers Parks across Bahrain draw steady numbers throughout the year. According to the board's Services and Public Facilities Committee, there are over 200 sites, including walkways and beaches, across the country. The Capital Governorate alone has 51, with a combined area of 377,000 square green spaces have seen over BD12 million spent on building works in the capital, with between five and 10 per cent of that figure usually needed later for upkeep. Disabilities The Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture continues to add walking paths, public toilets, shaded rest spots and play areas, and has placed some focus on access for those with disabilities. The idea is to run the Al system in one park to begin with. If the tools work as intended, the board may expand the scheme to other sites. Also read: Two Jailed, Face Deportation For Purchasing 77 Phones With Stolen Credit Cards Source News of Bahrain
