From Road Asphalt to Flood Control: Kish’s Development Record Under Public Scrutiny

Quality of urban services, road safety and surface water management directly affect citizens’ quality of life. At the 22nd “Accountability Sundays” session in Kish, the island’s development officials reported the paving of about 760,000 square meters of asphalt over two years, the construction of absorption wells and the expansion of surface water drainage projects. The effectiveness of these measures depends on continued implementation and accountability to public demands.

According to Ambassador Arjan of Kish, in the 22nd Sunday meeting of the accountability of the Kish Free Zone Organization, which was held in the presence of Mohammad Reza Arab, Technical and Civil Deputy of Kish Civil, Water and Services Company, the most important demands of the people of Kish in the field of urban maintenance, improvement of roads, management of surface water, reconstruction of sports facilities and development of public spaces of the island were discussed.

In this meeting, referring to the continuous nature of urban services, Mohammad Reza Arab said: maintaining the city and providing services in this area is a permanent and sustainable process, and for this reason, responding to people's demands should be pursued continuously. He listed the 137 and 124 systems as well as public relations and international affairs management and the inspection of the Kish Construction, Water and Services Company organization as the channels of communication between the people and the responsible groups.

Technical and Civil Vice President of Kish Construction, Water and Services Company, referring to the demand of Kishun residents regarding the improvement of roads, said: In the past two years, about 760,000 square meters of asphalt has been installed on the island, which has increased by two and a half times compared to the previous two-year period.

Emphasizing the continuation of the people's demands in this area, Arab added: the new phase of asphalting operations has begun, and in the area of Farur Square to Novaniyad Square, the measures related to the laying of asphalt and the implementation of asphalt are being carried out. According to him, the development of this operation is included in the implementation plans of this year.

He further pointed out the measures taken to reduce the flooding of roads and said: During the past two years, about 70 absorption wells have been implemented scattered throughout the city, and seven water absorption ducts (trenches) have been put into operation to collect surface water.

Stating that the new phase of these projects has started since the last two months, Arab stated: A water absorption channel (trench) has been implemented in the area of the Nations Square and the construction of the second channel in the area of the Hormoz Square is underway.

He added: The place of implementation of the new projects has been selected according to the investigations carried out during last year's floods. Based on this, in some places the drilling of absorption wells and in other places the construction of culverts and the implementation of piping to direct surface water are on the agenda.

The Technical and Construction Vice President of Kish Construction, Water and Services Company also informed about the implementation of measures related to flood relief in the area of Khanshir and at the end of the student street and said: Areas including Hoor hut and Marjan and Karane coastal strips are also planned for the implementation of operations in the coming weeks.

In another part of his speech, Arab discussed the measures taken to improve the island's sports facilities and said: "Last year, two sports halls were completely renovated, and the lighting standardization of the Persian Gulf complex hall and multi-purpose hall was also done at the beginning of the year."

Referring to the measures taken in the Karane pool, he added: the reconstruction of the false ceiling and pool was included in the executive plan, and last summer, the complete improvement of the cooling systems of the halls of the Olympic complex was also done.

According to Arab, improving the lighting of Ghadir and Kausar halls, sealing the roofs, and completing the renovation of the Mirmahna sports hall, which was damaged, are among the other planned programs in this area.

The Technical and Construction Vice President of Kish Construction, Water and Services Company also announced the increase in executive capacity for the development of sidewalks and public areas on the island and said: With the emphasis of the CEO of Kish Free Zone Organization, a new capacity has been predicted for the implementation of these projects and after holding a tender, the relevant contractor has been selected.

He expressed his hope that in the coming months, the process of implementing sidewalks and landscaping on the island will be followed more quickly.

Arab further mentioned the Minab Angels Park project, located next to the Amir Mosque, and said: This project is currently about 40% physically advanced and is expected to be put into operation by the middle of November.

At the end of the meeting, Mohammad Reza Arab thanked the implementing agents of the project and pointed to the continuation of "Responsibility Sundays" and said: This program was an attractive idea at the beginning, but now that 22 weeks have passed since its beginning, it can be said that it has gone beyond the idea stage and has become a continuous tradition.

Appreciating the organization's inspection group and management of public relations and international affairs, who, with the emphasis of the CEO of the Kish Free Zone Organization, have put the implementation of this plan on the agenda, he emphasized the importance of continuing direct communication with the people and responding to their demands.

It is reminded that the residents of Kish can contact the 124 system of Kish Free Zone Organization to participate in the upcoming meetings and raise their issues and demands.