The commemoration of the 64th anniversary of Independence and Youth Day was marked in Bejaia by a wave of inaugurations and the launching of several structural projects. Presided over by the local governor, Mr Kamel-Eddine Karbouche, these festivities combined historical remembrance with a firm commitment to modernizing the living conditions of citizens.
The day commenced with a vibrant tribute paid to the glorious martyrs of the Revolution. During a solemn ceremony, local authorities proceeded with the raising of the national colors, the playing of the national anthem, and the laying of wreaths of flowers.
The head of the executive then formalized the reopening of the iconic Saracen Gate site, also recognized as “Bab El Bahar” (the Gate of the Sea). This natural and historical area is once again accessible to the public following extensive rehabilitation works.
The selection of this historic date holds particular symbolism. For local authorities, it represents “honoring the sacrifice of the martyrs through the continuity of development efforts.” The enhancements were designed to offer an optimal welcome to families and tourists while preserving the natural and aesthetic character of the premises. This is an essential upgrading for the site, matching the tourism potential of the province.
On this occasion, the province’s top official “reaffirmed his commitment to pursuing the development of public spaces and historical monuments to sustainably strengthen the attractiveness of the region.”
Regarding infrastructure, the governor laid the first stone of the future Chahid “Rahmani Tahar” urban transport station, located in the heart of the Cheikh “El Mokrani” urban hub. This modern project aims to fluidify bus traffic, relieve congestion at existing facilities, and respond to the strong demographic expansion of this new neighborhood. Mr Karbouche took advantage of this opportunity to insist on “strict compliance with deadlines and quality standards.”
In the same momentum, the first stone of the future headquarters for the employment directorate was also laid.
In terms of housing, Monday was also highlighted by the handover of keys and home-ownership assistance decisions. In total, 2,746 housing units across all programs were distributed. This initiative notably includes 1,300 state grants for rural housing and 831 free promotional housing (LPL) units.
The governor recalled that “this operation aligns directly with the national program supported by the President of the Republic,” according to the communications office of the province. He also specified that “over the past four years, 44,304 families in the province have benefited from housing, while construction has begun on 24,158 new units,” the same source reveals.
In the area of water security, the executive chief commissioned the drinking water supply network connecting the Tichi-Haf dam to the municipality of Oued Ghir. Thanks to the modernization of two pumping stations and a flow rate gain of 30 liters per second, this project significantly improves the water supply for approximately 6,000 residents in the villages of Chetba, Amaaden, and Boumansour. Water distribution thus transitions from a frequency of one day out of three to a daily supply of eight hours.
This secure network will also supply the psychiatric hospital of Oued Ghir as well as seven real estate developments, complementing the future seawater desalination plant.
On the sidelines of these inaugurations, the Directorate of Religious Affairs and Wakfs honored youth and knowledge by recognizing the winners of the inter-zaouia Quranic, scientific, and intellectual competition. The prestigious Abou Bakr As-Seddiq Quranic school captured first place in this contest.