(MENAFN- Jordan Times) The prime minister has just announced that the government completed a preliminary comprehensive design for the establishment of a new Amman city, a concept that is as thrilling as it is scary.
Thrilling, because one conjures images of a modern city, complete with parks, garages, metro, bicycle lanes, compact administration complexes — like all paperwork done in one go, in one location, with minimum inconvenience — schools placed evenly in residential areas, distant malls so as not to have constrict traffic...
What a dream!
Scary, because one fears a repeat of the haphazard construction — without zoning, or respect for the laws governing it — big commercial buildings next to single houses, government units scattered to the four cardinal points, no decent transportation system... just like the old Amman.
Hopefully that will not be the case.
The location of the new Amman — maybe it will be called New Philadelphia, to avoid confusion — has yet to be disclosed, assumingly to deter real estate merchants from rushing to make a fast dinar by buying land in and around the place.
Also undisclosed are the details of this novel and ambitious plan. Only a preliminary design was completed, we are told, and when the idea materialises, it will be on build, operate and transfer basis.
Unanswered is also this question: Why would Jordan want to invest in such a huge undertaking when there are a number of other macro-projects that could be considered to create employment opportunities for Jordanians?
Some wonder about the whole scheme and whether it is a serious plan; why, they ask, does Jordan need a new capital where new government buildings will have to be constructed and the whole infrastructure of the metropolis linking it with the rest of the country would have to be built from scratch when less spending and less grand projects could be attempted to fix the existing infrastructure, by, for example, moving all government buildings on the outskirts of Amman, fixing streets, rehabilitating parks and, most importantly, seriously addressing the transportation problem?
The project, again, sounds impressive and tempting.
The reality, however, tends to dampen enthusiasm.
Immense sums of money will be needed to create a new city, money that could much better be used to create productive projects that both employ people and generate revenues.
Is erecting a new city viable? Will the new city sound the death knell for old, picturesque Amman? Is Jordan as rich as Kazakhstan to consider creating a new capital?
Jordan is a poor country and heavily indebted. Is this the time for 'idealistic' schemes when there are so many practical ideas that await adoption and execution to alleviate economic and social problems?
The details of the plan, when they are made public, will elucidate some questions.
Until then, let us try to cope with the old, dusty, crowded capital by behaving civilly and showing respect for the law.
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