The Mayor of Amman, Engineer Omar Maani, urged the residents of Jabal Al Qal’a to form a task force to coordinate and consult with the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) and the relevant parties on the Jabal Al Qal’a development project periodically, staying in touch with its implementation phases and facilitating dialogue, thereby allowing GAM to contemplate their demands to achieve public benefit.
During his meeting and open discussion with the residents of Jabal Al Qal’a today, Eng. Maani affirmed GAM’s commitment to opening channels of communication and increasing the public’s participation in decision-making, thus strengthening the relationship between citizens and their City.
The Mayor said that the Jabal Al Qal’a development project aims at improving the region, and rehabilitating and providing it with tourist attractions, the positive impacts of which will encompass the residents of the region.
Eng. Maani explained that this project is the first phase of the Wadi Amman project entitled “Wadi Philadelphia” that includes the Roman Amphitheater, GAM buildings in Al Madeena region, Bayt Al Shi’r (House of Poetry), and the old Raghadan Station which is being rehabilitated to become a commercial area, including a public library and tourist guidance center.
Reassuring the region’s residents, Eng. Maani stated that there would be no appropriation operations in the region, nor would any homes be removed or torn down. He advised the residents not to pay heed to rumors, explaining that the problem of abandoned and old buildings that formed health hazards or that were a nuisance to the neighborhood’s residents would be addressed.
The Jabal Al Qal’a development project involves constructing a new visitor building, a square for public celebrations, and pedestrian walkways; renovating the museum building and rehabilitating its park; placing guide and information signs that tell the history of the landmarks in each location, umbrellas and health facilities, according to Maisa’ Shahateet from the project’s administration.
It is worth noting that the project is a collaborative enterprise between with the Ministry of Tourism, GAM, the Department of Public Archeology, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) project “Tourism.”
The Secretary-General of the Ministry of Tourism, Farouq Al Hadeedi, urged Jabal Al Qal’a residents to present communal initiatives, thus taking part in activating the tourist movement in the region, and to establish facilities for tourist services in collaboration with the Ministry.
The Director of the Department of Public Archeology, Dr. Fawwaz Al Khreisha, affirmed the Department’s dedication to preserving the archeological sites in Jabal Al Qal’a, which represent the historical and cultural legacy of Amman for 8000 years. He indicated that the project aims at developing the location and bolstering its touristic standing without spoiling its various elements, and called for optimism regarding the end results of the project, which are in everyone’s best interest.
Within this context, Eng. Maani, accompanied by M.P. Ahmed Al Safadi, visited Al Qal’a Club, and toured the region and listened to the requests of the residents to rehabilitate and maintain the streets and stairs, to establish parks, and to serve them with a public transportation line.
The Mayor assured the residents that GAM would fulfill these requests according to priorities, and would urge the concerned ministries and governmental organizations to provide the services.
The meeting was attended by the Manager of Amman City, Eng. Ammar Gharaibeh, the Mayor of Amman’s Advisor for Regions Affairs, Mahmoud Al Armouti, the City Manager’s deputies, and the Heads of departments and regions.