Plan Approved to Double Population of Ramat Gan

By Shimon B. Lifkin

YERUSHALAYIM – A plan to more than double the population of Ramat Gan—from 170,000 to 390,000—has been approved for deposit, early stage in the development, Globes reported on Wednesday.

If implemented, it will transform Ramat Gan into a much more densely populated urban area, with 35-floor apartment buildings lining the city’s main roads and 83,400 new homes overall.

The plan, which was deposited at the Tel Aviv District Planning and Building Committee, also calls for the construction of another 4.75 million square meters of office space.

However, the promoters promise that the changes will not harm the character of the city center where the maximum height of buildings will remain at 8-9 floors and the fabric of neighborhoods with houses and gardens will be preserved.

To serve the burgeoning population, two planned Metro lines with six stations will pass beneath the city. One line will pass beneath Shderot Yerushalayim and the other in the southeast of the city near Tel Hashomer Hospital. The plan also envisions two light rail lines: The Red line due to start operating next year along Jabotinsky Street and the Purple Line along Aluf Sadeh Street.

Ramat Gan mayor Carmel Shama-Hacohen hailed the news, saying, “After 50 years it’s about time that Ramat Gan had an up-to-date outline plan, which corresponds with the needs, strengths and potential of Ramat Gan in 2050.”