PM reviews Amman municipality infrastructure, services

AMMAN — Prime Minister Hani Mulki on Monday stressed the need to focus on the work and efforts of the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) for enhancing the services provided to citizens and upgrading the quality of its infrastructure and services, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

During a visit to the GAM headquarters, Mulki met with Amman’s Mayor Yousef Shawarbeh, to whom he emphasised the importance of finding real solutions to some of the challenges faced by citizens, especially traffic. 

He pointed out the importance of upgrading public transportation efficacy in the capital, especially by increasing the rounds of buses to encourage people using them in their daily commutes. 

Mulki praised GAM for recently starting the provision of online services, which facilitates procedures for citizens and investors, and shortens the time and effort in completing transactions. He also placed importance in  examining the procedures that are still not available online and of disposing any unnecessary measures.

The premier underlined the need for GAM’s budget for the coming year to be “specific” and to focus only on the priority projects, calling on the new Amman Municipality Council to define priorities between the various projects and services.

On the Rapid Bus Project, the Prime Minister underlined the importance of prioritising the implementation of the development at the major intersections of stations and bridges to ensure speedy implementation.

Another area of focus are sidewalks in many areas of the capital, especially those with pedestrian traffic. Mulki alsocalled for reorganising the display of advertisement billboards  to limit visual pollution.

Regarding the GAM demand to find a suitable piece of land to establish a cemetery, in light of the inability of the Sahab cemeteries to accommodate the rising number of bodies, Mulki outlined the need for coordination between GAM and the Ministry of Finance / Department of Lands and Survey to find a new site with easy access and needed infrastructure.

He spoke about quickly finding alternative places for the central market and the GAM slaughterhouse, in a way that contributes to improving the service provided to citizens, protecting the environment and maintaining public safety.

For his part, Mayor Yousef Shawarbeh confirmed that GAM is keen on continuing its online services project to simplify the procedures for citizens and investors in accordance with national plans. 

He noted that 32 services in various sectors were already available online, 41 others were under way, while 10 services were completed, and 7 others will follow before the end of this year.