A major commercial district in the heart of the Southern Governorate may soon undergo renovations, as calls grow louder to address deteriorating infrastructure, mounting traffic congestion and accessibility challenges affecting businesses and consumers alike.
The demand to revamp the Bukuwara commercial strip has been made by Bukuwara municipal councillor and Southern Municipal Council member Ahmed Al Abdulla.
He has received strong backing from area MP Najeeb Al Kuwari, who stressed that urgent action is needed to support the area’s economic viability and ease the daily struggles faced by thousands of commuters, shoppers and business owners.
“This commercial strip is one of the busiest in the Southern Governorate, a go-to hub for food, drink, and daily services and yet it’s operating on crumbling infrastructure,” claimed Mr Al Abdulla, in an interview with the GDN. “There has been no serious investment or upgrade, only patchwork solutions.”
The strip, located off a key highway near the Riffa area, has evolved into a popular destination for both residents and visitors from across Bahrain and the Gulf. Its stretch of restaurants, cafés, convenience stores and service centres has transformed the area into a 24/7 economy, but not without significant growing pains.
“We’re talking about thousands of vehicles moving in and out every day, especially during weekends and evenings,” said Mr Al Abdulla. “Yet the roads are full of potholes, surface damage and random barriers. It’s as if the infrastructure was never designed to handle this volume.”
He pointed to a recent subsidence – a sudden dip in the road’s surface – as evidence of deeper structural concerns.
Mr Al Abdulla
While a quick-fix repair was carried out to prevent immediate danger, Mr Al Abdulla criticised the lack of a comprehensive maintenance strategy.
“Urgent repairs were made to patch the area, but that’s it. It’s unacceptable for such a vital commercial artery to be treated as an afterthought.”
One of the most contentious developments has been the recent installation of a roadside barrier dividing the two lanes of the commercial strip – a move that Mr Al Abdulla claims was implemented without proper consultation with shop owners or local officials.
“I don’t know who asked for a fence to be set up in the middle of a shopping street. It has only harmed business,” he alleged. “Employees and customers now have to walk long distances or drive full circles just to cross the road.”
He claimed that the barrier has effectively cut off foot traffic, disrupting not only the flow of shoppers, but also the daily operations of many outlets.
“This is a place where people often stop for a quick coffee or meal. But now, getting from one side to the other requires a long detour. It’s killing the convenience factor that made this place attractive in the first place,” he said.
Mr Al Kuwari has voiced full support for the rehabilitation push, vowing to raise the matter with both the Works Ministry and Southern Governorate officials.
Mr Al Kuwari
“The current state of the Bukuwara commercial strip is incompatible with the volume of economic activity taking place there,” Mr Al Kuwari told the GDN. “This is not a simple beautification project, it’s a necessary overhaul of roads, parking systems and access points.”
Mr Al Kuwari, a former councillor himself, stressed the need for immediate road resurfacing, upgraded lighting, improved drainage and a traffic redirection plan that minimises bottlenecks and maximises commercial visibility.
“Small and medium businesses are the backbone of this economy. If they are hindered by poor infrastructure, it affects not just them, it hits consumer confidence and the wider commercial ecosystem,” he said.
Mr Al Abdulla and Mr Al Kuwari are now jointly advocating for a comprehensive urban development plan for Bukuwara, including:
- Complete road resurfacing and repaving to address subsidence and damage,
- Redesigning access points and removing or modifying the barrier,
- Traffic management solutions to reduce congestion and improve flow,
- Improved pedestrian access, sidewalks, and crosswalks for safety,
- Beautification efforts, including landscaping and signage upgrades, and
- Public consultations with business owners and community representatives.
“We must treat this area as a strategic commercial zone,” said Mr Al Kuwari. “That means investing in smart infrastructure and listening to the people who live and work here.”
Both officials are preparing a formal proposal to be submitted to the relevant ministries in the coming weeks.
“There’s no time to waste,” said Mr Al Kuwari. “We owe it to the people of Bukuwara – to the business owners, the workers, the customers – to build an area that reflects the level of commerce taking place here.”
As the district waits for a green light, many hope the coming months will finally bring the long-promised renewal, and restore Bukuwara’s role as a southern economic powerhouse.
Local business owners have echoed the concerns, citing losses in footfall and growing frustration with traffic chaos and limited access.
“Since the barrier went up, customers complain all the time about how hard it is to reach us,” said the manager of a popular café on the strip. “Some have stopped coming altogether – especially during rush hours.”
Others point to a lack of co-ordinated planning between government agencies and the private sector.
“It feels like things are being done piecemeal, without a long-term vision,” said a salon owner. “We want to grow our businesses, not just survive potholes and detours.”
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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