The municipal authorities have decided to almost double the height of new buildings here from the present 40 to 70 storeys in an effort to create a "new Kuwait".
Mohammad Eid Al Nassar, Director-General of Kuwait Municipality, said that clearance has been received from the Fire Department, while approval from the Civil Aviation authorities is awaited.
The maximum height of buildings in the country is usually 30 storeys, although approval has been granted in recent years to a couple of 40-storey buildings.
Al Nassar said that 21 lots have been allocated for multi-storey parking to accommodate 25,000 cars in the heart of the city. p>
"These lots are necessary to cope with the increasing traffic downtown and will be completed by 2007," he added.
In the last couple of years, the municipality has embarked on a complete face lift of the downtown area and millions of dinars have been spent to refurbish the souqs so that the Arab identity is not lost in its quest for modernisation.
The biggest project is going on at Abdullah Al Ahmad Street where efforts are being made to create a heritage village. An entertainment area with facilities for special bowling, billiard halls, a second ice-skating ring and multiplex cinemas is also being constructed. p>
"The municipality has formed a committee to study tenders submitted by private contractors to develop the street," he said.
Five mosques in the area will also be renovated, he added.
Al Nassar said the municipality is planning to allow landlords to evict their tenants if the buildings are more than 25 years old.p>
According to the existing law, tenants cannot be evicted without giving them proper compensation and they are also allowed rent-free stay for six months.
