Councillors have demanded urgent action to replace stolen and damaged road signs in Muharraq.
The Muharraq Municipal Council has called on the authorities to instal new signboards in areas where they are missing, damaged, or stolen.
The appeal comes amid growing concerns over the increasing number of signposts that have reportedly been vandalised or looted for scrap metal, posing significant risks to motorists and pedestrians alike.
The initiative is being spearheaded by the council’s services and public utilities committee chairman Abdulqader Al Sayed, who has raised the alarm over the deteriorating state of road signage across the governorate.
“We are not just talking about a few missing signs, entire neighbourhoods are suffering from a lack of basic traffic guidance due to signs being stolen, destroyed, or simply never installed in the first place,” said Mr Al Sayed.
He stressed that missing or illegible signs were endangering public safety.
“It is not just a municipal issue, it is a safety issue. Without proper road signs – be it speed limits, pedestrian crossings, stop signs, or directional guidance – we are inviting accidents, confusion and chaos on our roads,” he added.
“We have received numerous complaints from residents and we urge the relevant authorities to respond swiftly and replace all missing signs.”
Mr Al Sayed also alleged that the problem was being compounded by criminal activity.
“What is even more disturbing is the fact that some signs are not merely falling apart, they are being systematically stolen, most likely to be sold as scrap metal,” he claimed.
“This is not just vandalism, it is theft of public property and must be addressed by security authorities alongside municipal efforts.
“We are not asking for something extraordinary, we are asking for the restoration of basic public utilities – essential markers that guide people safely through their daily commutes.
“If we can instal digital traffic systems in the capital, we should at least be able to maintain standard road signs in Muharraq.”
Supporting the call was the council’s technical committee chairman Fadhel Al Oud, who echoed the need for a comprehensive assessment and replacement campaign.
“We have seen entire intersections without a single directional sign or warning marker,” said Mr Al Oud.
“It is absolutely unacceptable, especially in areas with schools, hospitals or heavy pedestrian movement.”
He stressed that maintaining clear and visible signage is a basic yet crucial element of urban infrastructure.
“Our infrastructure is not complete without proper signs. Even with the best roads and intersections, traffic collapses if people don’t know where to stop, how fast to drive or where to turn,” Mr Al Oud said.
Both councillors called for a joint effort between the Works Ministry, the Interior Ministry’s General Directorate of Traffic and the Muharraq Municipality to conduct an urgent survey of the most affected areas and begin replacing signboards immediately.
Mr Al Oud also suggested installing ‘tamper-proof or anti-theft designs’ to deter further losses.
“We have to be practical,” he said. “If theft is part of the problem, then our response must be to design and instal signage that is harder to remove or has no resale value.
“Citizens and residents across Muharraq are now hoping that the call translates into concrete action before accidents occur or essential directional guidance disappears entirely,” he added.
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