Daily Traffic Congestion and Frequent Accidents Put Diraz Entrance Upgrade in Focus

Daily jams and repeated crashes at the main entrance to Diraz have prompted calls for urgent upgrades, councillor Bassem Abu Idris said. The choke point, worst during morning and evening commutes, is linked to more than seven adjacent ma’atams that draw large crowds for social and religious gatherings, compounded by scarce parking. He said the entrance should be improved in step with the Budaiya Highway scheme announced by the Ministry of Works.

Abu Idris, who represents the second constituency in the Northern Municipal Council, said street improvements in Diraz continue but the main entrance remains the foremost concern. He added that plans are under way to improve Diraz Park and the seafront, creating more open-air space for residents. He also intends to propose reviving traditional markets such as a fish market that once served the village and is studying a proposal to set aside land for a public library in Diraz.

On unsafe houses, he noted that he had invited residents via Instagram to contact him for listing, but few replied. He said his channels remain open for questions, ideas, and complaints. Regarding the cemetery, he said the municipality and council have planted 500 saplings and carry out regular cleaning, though more attention is needed.

Volunteer caretaker Mohammed Khalil Ibrahim, who has tended the site for three decades, said sandy tracks make funeral processions difficult and called for red-brick paving. Abu Idris also urged the installation of shade for mourners and repairs to faulty lighting, noting that volunteers had to cover exposed lamp-post fittings with wire. He added that 21 volunteers, 13 men and 8 women, handle washing and burials, while two Waqf staff cannot meet the demand, calling on the Jaafari Waqf Directorate to employ trained volunteers.

A tender has been issued for a full revamp of the Abu Subh corniche. The work will cover floor repairs, lighting, more greenery, family play areas, painting, and general sprucing, with plans to add clean energy measures. Abu Idris also proposed turning a coastal green plot into an educational park for Diraz and Madinat Salman. Once planted as a green belt with fruit trees, the area would become a site for schoolchildren to learn about farming and the environment, with workshops and a permanent film show on Bahrain’s agriculture.