A long-standing roadside safety concern in Budaiya could soon be addressed, with authorities examining ways to deal with an irrigation control box that has repeatedly been struck by vehicles, posing a hazard to motorists and pedestrians.
Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry Agriculture Under-Secretary Assem Abdullatif said the ministry was co-ordinating with the relevant authorities, including the Works Ministry, to study suitable solutions and take the necessary measures.
The control box on Road 53 in Block 557 forms part of a treated agricultural wastewater irrigation network serving a number of areas.
Northern Municipal Council member Mohammed Al Dossary had earlier submitted a proposal calling for its removal following a series of accidents that left the roadside metal box damaged and leaning.
Mr Abdullatif told the council that the box was an integral part of the network and could not simply be removed from its current location without affecting the system’s operation and continuity of service.
“The control box is connected to the treated agricultural wastewater drainage and irrigation system, making its relocation more complicated than a conventional roadside removal,” he said.
“Any intervention must therefore take into account the wider network and ensure that services to the areas it serves are not disrupted,” he added.
“The ministry is now co-ordinating with the relevant authorities, including the Works Ministry, to identify a suitable solution.”
The ministry’s latest position follows technical discussions and a site assessment by officials from relevant departments.
Mr Al Dossary, whose proposal received unanimous council support, welcomed the move but stressed the need for a practical solution before another collision caused further damage or endangered lives.
“The last accident was very serious,” he alleged. “The box was hit with such force that it shifted from its base. If another vehicle clips it, it could fall directly into the path of an oncoming car. This is not a minor maintenance issue, it’s a life-threatening hazard.”
The councillor said the road carries regular traffic, including residents, commuters and visitors heading towards nearby beachfront properties, making the condition of the installation particularly concerning.
“This is not a quiet internal road,” Mr Al Dossary said. “It is used by families, by visitors from across the Gulf, and by daily commuters.”
Mr Al Dossary said residents and motorists had repeatedly raised the issue with him, particularly because of the box’s current position and condition.
The council had previously been told that relocating the installation could require significant technical work, including modifications to a drainage channel and the relocation of a lifting pump.
However, Mr Al Dossary said the repeated accidents meant authorities needed to look beyond the cost and complexity of the work.
“We were informed that moving it would be expensive and complicated,” he said. “But what is the cost of a human life? We have already seen multiple accidents at this exact spot. We cannot wait for a fatality before action is taken.”
He welcomed the authorities’ willingness to examine the issue in co-ordination with other government bodies, saying the priority should now be to turn the technical assessment into a workable solution.
Mr Al Dossary said the council’s unanimous backing for his proposal demonstrated the seriousness with which members viewed the issue.
“This is about prevention,” he said. “We are asking the authorities to act now, decisively, before this turns into a headline none of us want to read.”
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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