The urban landscape of the city of Imzouren (Al Hoceima province) has completely transformed over the last few years thanks to the integrated urban upgrading programme of the city (2011-2014), a large-scale project that has strengthened local facilities and structured the economic foundations of the city.

With a total cost of 581.56 million DH, this programme thus set itself the objectives of filling the deficit in local facilities, bringing drinking water, electricity and sanitation networks into compliance, strengthening social services, improving traffic and protecting the city from flood risks.

In an interview granted to MAP, the president of the Imzouren municipal council, Mohamed Azghay, stressed that a large part of the projects initiated within the framework of the city's upgrading have been finalised or are in the final phase of realisation, signalling that this project bets mainly on the rehabilitation and qualification of the human element which constitutes the main wealth of the city.

The new main square, named El Massira, which is in the final phases of its realisation, has significantly modified the architecture of the city and given it an authentic aesthetic touch, noted the official, noting that other projects will soon see the light of day such as the Imzouren bus stop, Dar Sanaa (House of Handicrafts), the mini-football pitch of the Ait Moussa Ouamar neighbourhood, and that of Hay El Arabie.

Furthermore, adds the official, a large number of projects have already been finalised, notably the development of the Al Masjid, Athanaoui 1 and 2, Ibn Rochd, Tangier, Berguem 1 neighbourhoods, and the commercial neighbourhood, as they concern the establishment of an administrative neighbourhood, the construction of a daily market, a centre for artisans and professional activities, a municipal stadium with artificial turf and an athletics platform, four educational establishments (2 primary schools, a middle school and a high school), as well as the upgrading of the city's industrial zone.

It also concerns the project for the protection of the city of Imzouren from flood risks (36 MDH), which consists of recalibrating the El Maleh (2km) and Iâathmanane (1km) wadis, which cross the city, and flow into the Ahajjar wadi, he said.

For his part, the state engineer at the city's municipality, Abdelmajid Kadi, stressed that the development work of the Imzouren neighbourhoods concerns drinking water, liquid sanitation, rainwater drainage, road construction, sidewalk development, and the construction of six engineering structures (bridges) that connect the different neighbourhoods of the city.

He also stressed that the projects, whose realisation will be launched immediately, concern notably the construction of a vocational training establishment on an area of 1 hectare (5000 m2 covered) with a reception capacity of 850 students, the development of the expressway that crosses the municipality over a length of 2.7 km, the construction of the Imzouren municipal palace at the level of the administrative neighbourhood, and the expansion of the electrical network at the level of 6 neighbourhoods.