Councillors demand return of parking at Muharraq Souq

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Anger over the redevelopment of Muharraq Souk has boiled over after councillors accused those behind the scheme of choking off trade and access by removing roadside parking and replacing it with planters and raised kerbs.

In an effort to claw back what had been lost, the Muharraq Municipal Council agreed to lower the kerbs and reclaim the space for parking. Councillors said the work could be completed within a week.

The market, one of the oldest in Bahrain, had long drawn visitors from neighbouring countries.

Traders now complain of empty lanes and fewer customers.

Public survey

Councillor Fadhil Al Oud, who repeatedly raised the matter, pointed to a public survey where four out of five respondents said the changes had made things worse.

He said the project was treated as beyond question and could not be touched.

Dropping the kerbs by three metres, he added, could ease the shortage of parking without tearing up the planting beds.

Vice-chairman Saleh BuHazza said the market was never a local issue alone.

Cultural events

It served the whole governorate and hosted cultural events.

He warned that removing parking had driven customers away and left traders struggling.

With complaints piling up on social media, the council backed what it described as the fastest solution.

Parking spaces would be restored where they had been lost.

Unresolved projects

During the same session, councillors returned to several unresolved projects.

One was a rainwater drainage system in Samaheej that has been left half-finished.

They said flooding had become a recurring nuisance.

In Al Dair, the council approved the acquisition of a property in Block 961 for use as a public car park.

Recommendation

A recommendation was added to ensure the owner would be compensated.

Plans were also agreed to create a new road link with the Muharraq ring road to ease congestion and improve access for residents.

In Hidd, the council supported work to resurface worn-out roads, install more streetlights and carry out repairs at the central fish market in Block 105.

A proposal to build a religious school for boys or girls was also backed. Councillors said the area had been left behind when it came to these services.

Basic utilities

Rayya jetty in Al Dair came up again. The site still lacks basic utilities.

Fishermen are forced to go elsewhere and risk being fined for mooring in unauthorised areas.

Councillors said the matter had dragged on for too long.

Al Oud described the responses received so far as vague and frustrating.

Jetty

Council chairman Abdulaziz Al Naar said it made no sense to direct people to use a jetty that does not even have water or electricity.

Traffic was another major issue.

Councillor Mohammed Al Mahmood presented a series of planned roads and bridges that he said would ease pressure across Busaiteen.