Renewed calls have been made for infrastructure upgrades in Hamad Town after councillors claimed that worsening potholes and caved-in, or sinking, roads are damaging vehicles and disrupting the lives of residents.
They have demanded urgent action to tackle what they describe as an ‘escalating infrastructure headache’.
At the latest session of the Northern Municipal Council, western Hamad Town councillor Abdulla Al Qobaisi submitted an urgent request calling for joint co-ordination between the Works Ministry and the Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) to address recurring subsidence and potholes damaging roads and pavements across residential neighbourhoods.
Mr Al Qobaisi said residents had repeatedly raised concerns over deteriorating road conditions, particularly in front of homes and along heavily used streets, warning that delays in resolving the issue could create unnecessary risks for motorists and pedestrians.
“We are receiving increasing complaints from residents who are frustrated by the repeated appearance of potholes and sinking asphalt surfaces,” said Mr Al Qobaisi.
“The current process is too slow, with requests moving back and forth between authorities while residents continue to deal with unsafe roads and damaged infrastructure.”
According to the proposal, one of the biggest obstacles lies in identifying the root cause of the damage.
Requests are often initially sent to either the EWA or the Ministry, only for one authority to deny responsibility, forcing the file to be redirected and causing delays before actual repair work begins.
The proposal highlights repeated instances where authorities inspect suspected water leaks or underground sewage pipe failures separately, yet no definitive solution is reached even as damage continues to worsen.
Technical committee chairman and northern Hamad Town councillor Jassim Hejres alleged that ‘outdated inspection methods’ were adding to the problem, stressing the need for modern detection systems and stronger technical co-operation.
“There is a clear co-ordination gap between the concerned authorities,” said Mr Hejres.
“In many cases, traditional excavation methods are being used, and both sides often conclude there is no leak or fault, even though the subsidence remains visible on site.
“We need advanced monitoring equipment and a faster, unified technical response.”
Council members are now pushing for an integrated mechanism allowing both authorities to investigate road failures simultaneously instead of separately, cutting bureaucracy and accelerating repairs.
Municipal officials hope the proposal will lead to a permanent framework preventing residents from enduring repeated delays while infrastructure problems worsen beneath the surface.
The proposal has been referred to Works Minister Ibrahim Al Hawaj and Electricity and Water Affairs Minister Yasser Humaidan for review.
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