Residents of a newly developed area in Muharraq have raised the alarm over the absence of basic services, claiming they have been left isolated despite years of promises from authorities.
Muharraq Municipal Council vice-chairman and area councillor Saleh Buhazaa said that Al Shurooq (Block 254) in the fifth constituency has been suffering for years from a ‘near-total absence’ of essential infrastructure, leaving families without access to ‘the most basic requirements’ of decent living.
Shurooq entrance
“The area lacks a proper sewage network, which forces residents to resort to unhealthy alternative solutions that harm both public health and the environment,” Mr Buhazaa claimed. “There is also no public street lighting across the neighbourhood, which increases security and traffic risks, while the internal roads remain unprepared and complicate residents’ daily movement.”
Mr Buhazaa also pointed out that the neighbourhood has only one access point – through Dilmunia Island – which he warned was a serious safety concern.
“It is unacceptable that an entire residential block is dependent on a single entry and exit route. This violates the most basic standards of urban planning and puts residents’ safety at risk,” he added.
The councillor called on the Works Ministry to honour repeated commitments to carry out infrastructure projects in Block 254.
“For years, the ministry has made public promises, but these have remained confined to media statements without any tangible implementation on the ground,” said Mr Buhazaa. “This has left residents feeling frustrated and discriminated against compared with other areas where projects have moved forward.”
He called on all the concerned authorities to immediately address the issue by launching long-delayed projects, including sewage system works, proper street lighting, and the rehabilitation of internal roads, in addition to providing alternative access routes.
Mr Buhazaa
“These are not luxuries, they are fundamental rights guaranteed to citizens by the Constitution,” Mr Buhazaa stressed.
Residents, meanwhile, have expressed growing discontent, saying they feel cut off and neglected despite paying taxes and service fees like other citizens. Many families complain that the lack of infrastructure has affected their daily lives – from children struggling to walk to school safely in the dark, to families relying on costly private waste disposal due to the absence of sewage services.
Others have also voiced concerns, saying poor access and the lack of road development discourage investment and hindered economic activity in the area.
Mr Buhazaa said the neglect has created ‘a sense of inequality’ among residents of Al Shurooq, who see neighbouring districts benefiting from large-scale development projects while their own pleas remain unanswered.
“It is unacceptable that one area flourishes with world-class facilities while another, only a short distance away, remains deprived of basic infrastructure,” he added.
The new Shurooq residential area
He further warned that if urgent measures were not taken, the problems could escalate into public health hazards and traffic bottlenecks as the population in the area continues to grow.
The Muharraq Municipal Council has pledged to keep pushing the issue on its agenda, with Mr Buhazaa reiterating that the matter was not just about services but about dignity.
“Every citizen deserves a safe, healthy and properly serviced environment,” he concluded. “We will continue to press until the voices of Al Shurooq residents are heard and acted upon.
“If implemented, the projects would not only improve the quality of life but also align with Bahrain’s long-term urban development plans, which aim to provide modern and sustainable living conditions across all governorates.”
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))