Single-window system proposed

A single-window system to issue permits for commercial establishments can help avoid duplication of work at the Manama Municipality and the Urban Design Department.According to Manama Municipal Council secretary Jassim Redha, “The council’s technical committee discussed the duplication of process for permits by the and the municipality. The committee will hold talks with the Undersecretary of Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, Juma Al Kaabi, to stop approving urban designs and instead forward them to the municipality which is empowered to do the job. If it happens, then the unnecessary paper work can be avoided,” “The demand for permits has been increasing and people apply with the department as well as municipality. Usually, the department issues no-objection certificates but when the municipality verifies regulations and the zone status of the areas the applicants have opted for, then the problems start.“For example, an applicant wants to open a coffee shop in Basian Tower in Hoora. The department may not see anything wrong about it. But we know that due to the zoning, coffee shops are not allowed in the area,” Redha said, adding that the council intended to impress upon Dr Al Kaabi to allow the municipality to process the permits to avoid problems.“The technical committee also held talks on the Shaikh Salman Highway passing through the Ghufool roundabout to the Khamis Mosque where all buildings should have an offset margin of six metres from the road line and as much from car parks. The General Director of the Municipality, Abdulkarim Hassan, has suggested to keep only the parking margin so that we could have a straight line joining all the existing and proposed buildings.“This road is full of showrooms and the council is studying the suggestion and will seek advice from the Directorate of Roads at the Ministry of Works and Housing and the parties involved.” Redha said.The facility aims to help avoid duplication of work on permits between the municipality and the urban design department