Ammon News - The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) have begun preparation and development works in downtown Amman as part of the Amman Cable Car project, while stressing that the scheme will preserve the area's historic and architectural character.

The project is designed to enhance the capital's tourism offering, improve the urban environment and connect a number of tourist sites and landmarks across the city.

In a joint statement issued Wednesday, the ministry and GAM said buildings included in the current clearance and preparation works are not classified as archaeological or heritage structures and are located outside the main historic market areas.

They said preserving downtown Amman's architectural and archaeological heritage is a core element of the development plan and that the cable car project will not affect any building officially listed on the urban and architectural heritage register.

The properties involved in the current works are owned by GAM rather than private owners, meaning the ongoing phase does not require new expropriations or compensation, the statement said.

The ministry and municipality said the works are being implemented in accordance with the Urban and Architectural Heritage Protection Law No. 5 of 2005. Buildings considered to have heritage value have been surveyed and documented, with approved properties included in the official heritage register.

Sites designated for clearance and preparation are also undergoing the required technical examinations by the relevant authorities, including the Department of Antiquities, to verify that they contain no archaeological remains.

If archaeological evidence or discoveries emerge during the works, the authorities said the required legal and technical procedures will be followed to protect and document them.

The cable car is part of a broader plan for the development of downtown Amman and is intended to complement, rather than replace, the area's traditional markets and heritage attractions.

According to the statement, the project aims to improve connections between key sites, facilitate visitor access to the city center and offer a new way to experience Amman's urban landscape.

Once completed, the cable car is expected to add a new attraction to the capital's tourism portfolio as part of efforts to position downtown Amman as an integrated destination combining its historic identity with modern urban development.