MORE than 100 residents of Muharraq have submitted a petition to scrap shortcuts on Google Maps used by tourists to reach a popular shopping complex in the area.
Muharraq Municipal Council services and public utilities committee chairman Fadhel Al Oud said the web-mapping service was ‘misleading’ visitors to Dragon City, with most of them getting lost in the neighbourhoods.
He also claimed that residents were concerned as frustrated drivers speed through the narrow alleys, risking their own lives and the lives of others.
The Muharraq Municipal Council had submitted a proposal in September last year to install additional signs to help visitors reach safely as most of them regularly drive in circles around their homes or into the area’s graveyard.
The Dair Graveyard
Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Minister Essam Khalaf informed councillors that the signs were under study, while stating that Internet matters were under the Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA).
The mall in Diyar Al Muharraq has been seeing an influx of customers following the reopening of King Fahad Causeway in May last year. It also witnessed a surge in numbers during Eid Al Fitr this year as GCC nationals were allowed to travel using smart cards and without Covid-19 restrictions.
The council in December 2019 had asked iGA to scrap all shortcuts shown on Google Maps to Dragon City. Government officials had acknowledged the issue, but stated that most of the visitors who got lost were heading from Seef District towards Muharraq, while those using Khalifa Bin Salman Causeway connecting Juffair to Hidd had no problems.
The authority’s chief executive Mohammed Al Qaed, in a letter to the council, said the government had no power over Google Maps.
“Electronic maps cannot be changed by the authority. Routes are determined by Google Maps automatically according to shortcuts and the least congested road for drivers,” said Mr Al Qaed.
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Mr Al Oud
However, Mr Al Oud claimed that Google, when contacted, had asked for a fee to cancel the undesirable route.
“It doesn’t matter if it is $5, $10 or $1,000, residents are concerned as GCC nationals are speeding through narrow alleys near their homes, putting their lives and all others around them in danger,” he said.
“More than 100 residents have now demanded that I either resolve the matter or step down.
“I cannot blame them because they have been going through a lot of misery especially as life has returned back to normal following the cancellation of Covid-19 protocols.
“I believe Google has asked for a payment to scrap the route.
“I am willing to pay from my pocket, but company officials want the government to contact them and declare that the route is incorrect and has to be pulled out.”
The Muharraq Municipal Council in September 2020 came up with an alternative route, parallel to the cemetery, which is clear and far away from the Dair Cemetery and homes, but due to technical issues was put on hold by the Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry.
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Mr Al Murbati
Council chairman Ghazi Al Murbati also called for quick action.
“Residents are in a miserable state, especially with the place seeing an increase in the number of visitors,” Mr Al Murbati said.
“The government needs to step in to end the problem.
“I am getting calls from angry residents every day and honestly, I don’t mind paying the amount to end people’s misery.”
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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