Another
wildlife sanctuary in Abu Dhabi is coming up on the skyline. This is
on Lulu Island, which lies opposite the Corniche.
The
project is being carried out by the Public Works Department.
According to sources, the work is being carried out with great speed
to turn it into a major wildlife sanctuary like Seer Banyas Island.
‘More than 25,000 date palms have been planted and about 30,000
more are likely to follow in the next two months’ said a source.
Thousands
of birds of different species have already been moved to the island
in addition to several herds of deer.
The
animals are likely to be released on the island once the project is
complete. Once completed, colorful birds, wildlife and lush, green
plants will like a fairy tale island, a dream-like green oasis in
the middle of the sea, inhabit the sanctuary. The project includes
man-made lakes and ponds, parks, recreational and entertainment
facilities, and areas reflecting the traditional lifestyle of
the country.
Despite
these additions, the project has been designed to make the island a
natural wildlife sanctuary where the animals, which include deer and
Oryx, live peacefully and breed without disturbance.
Corniche
project
The
Island plan will give a boost to the ongoing Abu Dhabi Corniche
Expansion Project, which is being carried out at a cost of more than
Dh700 million. The initial work on the Corniche
expansion, which involves filling the seabed along the seven
kilometre long seaside road, has been completed for the
beautification work to begin. The
work on the first stage of the project, involving dredging,
reclamation and construction of roads, began late last year and is
expected to be complete by the end of next year.
The
mega project has been approved by the Abu Dhabi Executive Council,
chaired by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu
Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed
Forces. It is being executed in line with the commitment by Sheikh
Khalifa to improve the quality of life, infrastructure, buildings
and tourism facilities of Abu Dhabi to match the country's
comprehensive development.
The
150 to 200 metres filling from Mina Zayed to Hiltonia Beach on the
Corniche has been completed. The dredging was carried out by the National Marine Dredging Company
on a subcontract offered by BM - a U.A.E.-Turkish joint venture
for engineering and construction.
BM
is carrying out the initial stage of the project. The Abu Dhabi
Municipality awarded the contract to the joint venture. The entire
project will include planting over one billion trees along the
Corniche, flyovers, underpasses, expanded roads, advanced traffic
signals, parks, shops, recreation facilities, fountains, heritage
villages and museums. When completed, the project will turn the
Corniche into the Gulf region's 'Disneyland'. Several pedestrian
underpasses and traffic tunnels will also be constructed. The
project involves parking space for 4,000 cars on the Corniche, while
a flyover will traverse the Gulf waters to give quick access to the
Sheraton Hotel and nearby areas.
Plantation
will give the project a natural touch, along with its recreational
facilities and modem roads, parks and fountains, that will ensure
the Corniche remains one of the country's highlights for a long
time to come.
Old
landmarks
The
project also includes the replacement of old landmarks, such as the
famous Clock Tower. The 30-metre tower will be replaced with a
70-metre one, which will include shopping and recreation centres,
museums, fountains and parks.
According
to an earlier statement from Sheikh Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed,
the Ruler's Representative in the Western Region and Chairman of the
Municipality and Town Planning Department, the project will have
everything to make it the hallmark of the region.
"There
will be a lot of green
Parks for families. There emphasis on greenery. We
will have vast green areas including mountains, hills and valleys
over there. We want it to become a beautiful landscape for artists
and revellers," said the statement.
The
next contract for the second stage of the project will be awarded
in 2003 and it involves construction of shopping centres,
recreation facilities, restaurants and mosques, rest houses and
facilities. It could be completed in two years. The contract,
according to industry sources, will be much bigger than the
first.
The
overall project also involves the construction of a road linking Al
Khaleej Al Arabi and the Eastern Ring Road with Port Zayed and
Saadiyat Island. The road is being constructed to keep goods
trucks away from the centre in order to allow smooth traffic flow in
the capital.
Click
here to go to questions
|