Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects Ian Borg visited the work being done by the Grand Harbour Regeneration Corporation on the €4 million regeneration project on the Mall Garden in Floriana. This investment will be improving both the aesthetics of this garden and the surroundings in order to better complement the appearance of the City Gate, Tritoni Square, Biskuttin and, Argotti Gardens.
The project is divided into three phases. The first phase includes paving work which so far has been carried out on a total of 6,000 square meters. It is worth mentioning that special paving is being used for visually impaired people. In the second phase the restoration of the monuments and the re-construction of the fountain will be done. The third phase will include the installation of a new lighting system inside and outside the garden as well as other service works such as security cameras.
Other works include the replacement of the space in front of the Examinations Department, restoration of the boundary wall, new handrails around the monuments, a new irrigation system, telecommunication services, enhancing of existing trees and landscaping, regeneration of wooden benches and construction of a new surrounding pavement.
“This is a Government that has all its communities at the national level at the top of its priorities. We are committed to continue investing in these types of projects that are constantly strengthening tourism in our country. In addition, we will continue to embellish our open spaces, offer better accessibility for everyone, especially people with mobility challenges, and also continue to preserve our country’s heritage and our identity”, said Minister Ian Borg.
Minister Ian Borg went on to thank the Grand Harbour Regeneration Corporation and commended the regeneration work it is doing here as part of a larger holistic investment in pedestrian areas and greenery in this urban part of this country.
GHRC Chief Executive Gino Cauchi said, “The Mall Garden has a very long history. It is a place with great potential and is used daily for recreation. It was more than appropriate to regenerate this Garden. If all goes as planned, this project will be finished by the end of the year. Here we will not only have new paving, but we will have the monuments, the restored fountain and entrance arches, landscaping and new irrigation facilities, and we will have all the services including lighting system, internet and CCTV which currently are not there. This project is the link that will connect the project of the entrance of the City, Triotoni Square, il-Biskuttin, with the Argotti area.”
GHRC Chairman Anthony Agius Decelis said that the Grand Harbour Regeneration Corporation is in charge of various projects and this is another regeneration project being carried out by the Ministry of Ian Borg through this corporation. This is a project that will benefit the residents of Floriana, tourists and all Maltese and Gozitans who visit this central place in Malta. The government looks at improving and to offer a better standard of living for our people in a holistic way and this project is a proof of that.
Floriana Mayor Davina Sammut Hili said, “This garden was opened in a hurry and as a result we soon began to face various complaints about it especially about dangerous paving as well as also the lack of lighting. Therefore, I am pleased to inform you that the embellishing work on this garden is currently well underway and I would like to take this opportunity to thank Minister Ian Borg together with the GHRC and all the staff who are working hard on this project.”
