A CALL for an urgent government intervention to stop an old area of Muharraq from “falling apart” has gone out from councillors.
Muharraq Governorate constituency three councillor Abdulqader Al Sayed, whose area covers middle Muharraq (Al Binali), Bahrain International Airport and parts of Busaiteen, has warned of a catastrophe that could turn alleys, homes and services into ruins.
He told his colleagues that Road 2307 in Block 223 has very few rain drainage sewers resulting in water accumulating during heavy rains that even prevents burials in the Muharraq Cemetery.
The councillor also warned of deep-rooted trees that have crawled inside homes and are intertwined with infrastructure facilities in the area.
Mr Al Sayed has urged the authorities to add a vital artery, Road 1, in its plans to develop roads surrounding the airport.
He also urged the authorities to develop Al Khalifa Avenue, covering Blocks 208 to 210, which is in a derelict state and in need of car parks, streetlights, sewage facilities and rain drains.
“Middle Muharraq is in a bad shape,” said Mr Al Sayed.
“People in Block 223 are finding it difficult to get in and out of their homes – even using a boat,” he remarked.
“A large pool of water stays for days after heavy rains because there are no rainwater drains.
“Even burying someone is difficult as people can’t move from the embalming / washing centre to the mosque for farewell prayers and then to the cemetery because the pool of water is in the way.
“Also, there is a problem with deep-rooted trees that have intertwined with infrastructure services and crept into homes.
“These trees need to be cut down immediately and the authorities need to ensure they don’t grow again.”
Mr Al Sayed said Old Muharraq should be a priority.
“We want people to continue living in Muharraq and those who left to return,” he said.
“Those problems need immediate attention or else there would be nothing left to restore or keep intact.”
Housing and Urban Planning Minister Amna Al Romaihi revealed in October this year that the Muharraq City Development Plan includes developing an area of approximately 1.4 million square metres, restoring 16 buildings of heritage value and completing the Pearling Path, to be used in cultural and tourism activities.
The plan also envisages increasing the green area in the region and diversifying its afforestation, by providing 72 green squares covering an area of 12,000sqm to plant 100,000 trees, and developing traffic and pedestrian corridors with a length of 48sqm, in addition to providing parking lots to accommodate residents and visitors to the areas, the minister said.
She added the project included the construction of 2,000 housing units and that the ministry would start restoring and building 300 housing units.
The expropriations and detailed designs will be completed this month, and construction work will begin in October next year. All project phases will be completed and delivered in December 2026, she noted.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))