The Greater Amman Municipality has completed 50% of the rehabilitation and renovation works at the old souks of Philadelphia, Al-Balabsa and Al-Bukhariya in downtown Amman. The three souks caught huge fire last month.
According to Director of GAM's Control and Project Management Department, Engineer Mohammad Kharabsheh, the rehabilitation works include the construction of reinforcement structures for the damaged buildings such as joints, columns and knobs to guarantee the public safety in these places. Other works involve total renovation of the infrastructure for the three souks, and their facilities.
Kharabsheh said the rehabilitation works will be concluded before Eid Al-Fitr, noting that GAM will provide the souks with an advanced fire alarm system to be set up in the main corridors, plus finishing all the required hidden electric extensions based on the optimum standards in the contradiction of the pre-fire conditions when electric extensions were visible and disorganized.
Kharabsheh noted that technical studies and renovations in the three souks are conducted under strict supervision of engineers representing GAM and the Royal Scientific Society, pointing out that renovations of the exterior frontage of the three souks are consistent with the highest technical standards, using special material to preserve the location's authenticity.
Meanwhile, Kharabsheh made it clear that Al-Bukhariya souk has endured the minimum damages in the blaze, as merchants continue to open their stores there daily for the public. He said that all the electric extensions in the souk are being protected by the "Cable Tray", which includes a large round metal plate with raised brim to protect the electric cables in the building. The tray will be placed at center of the ceiling to ensure the public safety and avoid recurrence of blazes.
The first phase of the rehabilitation included the removal of all debris and wreckage caused by the blaze, and cleaning the whole area prior to renovating it.
It is worth mentioning that GAM has reached an agreement with one of the most professional and experienced contractors to finish the rehabilitation and renovation works for the three souks, which commenced on August 17th.
