Traders at one of Bahrain's oldest markets, which is set to get a BD6 million ( $16 million) facelift, will be moved to a temporary location in June.

Work at the 36-year-old Muharraq Central Market was supposed to start last November after more than four years of delays, reported the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

However, the Muharraq Municipal Council blocked the project after being informed that the Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Ministry was planning to move traders to the nearby Hassan Bin Thabet Public Park.

Councillors made a U-turn following negotiations to allow the developer to build a temporary steel structure at the park before working on the market.

The Muharraq Central Market Company, a subsidiary of Tashgeel for Commercial Buildings Management, will build the temporary structure at its own expense.

"We will not damage existing facilities in the park and we will just have the steel structure, which will be fully equipped, on a temporary basis until work on the original market is complete," said company director and Tashgeel projects director Sanad Al Sabea.

"It will take up to two years from June and we didn't want it to be tents or wooden shacks.

"We are only responsible for providing spaces for meat, fish, and fruit and vegetables, and are not concerned with foodstuff merchants or Ramez Trading Centre getting temporary places."

The new market will feature a shopping complex, hypermarket and separate sections for meat, fish, fruits and vegetables, and kiosks.

It will also include a special area for people who make traditional crafts, government offices, banks, restaurants and cafes.-TradeArabia News Service