Petra, Sept. 10 (Petra) --The Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) on Thursday launched the Al-Dara Development Project as part of its efforts to develop infrastructure and tourism services, improve the urban environment, and enhance the area’s readiness to receive visitors.

The project aims to improve services for visitors and the local community, facilitate traffic movement, organize access to tourist sites, and connect the tourist street with downtown Wadi Musa. It also includes green spaces and public facilities to support economic and commercial activity in the area.

Chairman of the Authority’s Board of Commissioners Adnan Sawaier told the Jordan News Agency (Petra) that the Al-Dara project is part of the Authority’s efforts to develop infrastructure and services in the Petra region and improve the urban environment in line with Petra’s status as a global tourist destination.

He said the project seeks to improve the visitor experience, organize the movement of vehicles and pedestrians, and provide integrated facilities and services, while creating a more organized environment for commercial activities and tourism services. He added that infrastructure development is one of the Authority’s main areas of work to strengthen the region’s competitiveness and support the local economy.

Sawaier said the development works take into account the area’s tourism and environmental characteristics and seek to integrate infrastructure, the urban environment and services for visitors and the local community, while preserving the area’s identity.

He added that the PDTRA continues to implement development and service projects according to clear priorities, with a focus on their direct impact on the local community and tourism sector. He said improving public facilities, organizing traffic and developing service areas would contribute to economic activity and support commercial activities in the area.

The project includes completing the alternative road serving the tourist street, extending the public plaza and its intersection with the tourist street, as well as constructing parking facilities, service facilities, green areas and other landscaping works.

The alternative road is about 800 meters long and includes 71 commercial shops beneath it. Thirty-seven shops were completed during the first phase. A 10-meter-wide road will run above the shops, alongside pedestrian paths, seating areas and sidewalks designed to suit the character of the area and its tourism setting.

The project also includes completing the 140-meter extension of the public plaza, following the completion of about 90 meters during the first phase. The works include further landscaping, green spaces and planting beds, as well as an intersection linking the proposed parking facilities with the tourist street and the alternative road.

The parking facilities will be built on two levels with a capacity of about 70 vehicles. The project also includes six public restrooms for men and women and two restrooms designated for persons with disabilities, in addition to landscaping works.

Upon completion of its various phases, the project is expected to improve traffic flow and organize services and facilities in Al-Dara, while improving the urban environment and tourism services in the area and supporting economic activity and the local community in the Petra region.

//Petra//WH