A renewed push is underway to transform one of Bahrain’s most popular seaside destinations, with calls for a comprehensive safety and infrastructure upgrade at Budaiya Coast and Promenade including new swimming signage.
Budaiya Municipal Councillor Mohammed Al Dossary has submitted a fresh list of improvements aimed at making the coastal attraction safer, more family-friendly and better equipped to cope with the thousands of visitors it receives throughout the year.
The proposals have been officially forwarded by Northern Municipal Council chairman Dr Sayed Shubar Al Wedaie to the relevant authorities for consideration.
Mr Al Dossary said Budaiya Coast had become one of the Northern Governorate’s busiest recreational destinations and deserved facilities matching its growing popularity.
“Families, walkers, joggers and tourists visit the coast every day and they deserve a safe, clean and well-organised environment,” he said.
“Our requests focus on public safety, improving visitor experience and protecting public property. These are practical enhancements that will make a significant difference for everyone using the promenade.”
Among the proposals are multilingual information boards displaying permitted swimming hours, beach safety advice and emergency guidance, recognising the diverse nationalities that frequent the coast.
The councillor also wants an iron entrance gate installed to allow the site to be secured during evening hours, surveillance cameras positioned at strategic locations to deter vandalism and monitor violations, additional lighting, increased evening security patrols and clear distance markers for walkers and runners.
He also called for new rubbish bins, repairs to lighting infrastructure, closure of exposed drainage openings and a vehicle barrier to prevent motorists from illegally entering pedestrian areas.
Mr Al Dossary stressed that several of the requests had been raised previously but remained outstanding.
“The coast is a valuable public asset and continuous maintenance is essential,” he said. “We want visitors to enjoy the area safely while preserving it for future generations.”
The improvements come alongside renewed calls to refurbish the ageing playground at Al Budaiya Coast in Block 552.
Official correspondence shows repeated requests by the councillor for repairs to the playground surface, surrounding fencing and basketball facilities, with promises that the project would be included in successive municipal works programmes.
Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry municipalities affairs under-secretary Shaikh Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Khalifa said the ministry remained committed to upgrading municipal facilities across the kingdom in accordance with approved development plans.
“We continue to work closely with municipal councils to study requests received from elected representatives and prioritise projects that enhance public services, safety and the quality of recreational facilities,” he said.
Northern Municipality director-general Mohammed Al Sehli said the municipality was co-ordinating with the relevant departments to evaluate the latest proposals.
“Budaiya Coast is one of the Northern Governorate’s landmark public spaces,” he said.
“We are reviewing the requests submitted by the Municipal Council to determine implementation priorities within the available development and maintenance programmes. Our objective is to ensure the coast remains a safe, attractive and enjoyable destination for residents and visitors alike.”
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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