Council Raises Emergency Access Concerns at Durrat Al Muharraq Housing Complex

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

The Muharraq Municipal Council discussed concerns over access and emergency preparedness at a major residential complex in Durrat Al Muharraq during the ordinary session of the Muharraq Municipal Council No. (11), held as part of the sixth municipal term and the fourth session of the 2025–2026 convening period.

The issue was raised by Sixth Constituency member Fadel Al Oud, who drew attention to what he described as the housing complex’s reliance on a single main entrance. He warned that residents have expressed growing concern over the potential difficulty of evacuation or emergency response in the event of an accident, congestion, or unforeseen incident.

Safety

Al Oud told the council that there is widespread apprehension among residents that traffic disruptions or incidents at the sole access point could paralyse movement across the entire complex, complicating emergency intervention and placing public safety at risk. While it was noted that additional access points exist within the approved designs, members agreed that this information is not clearly communicated or practically evident to residents.

During the discussion, Noor Sameer, a representative from the Urban Planning and Development Authority confirmed that, according to approved plans, the complex is designed with more than one entrance and exit. However, questions were raised over which authority holds responsibility for determining priorities and implementing these access points on the ground.

It was stressed that implementation of approved designs lies with the Ministry of Works, while the land authority does not hold execution responsibility. Members acknowledged that overlapping mandates between ministries have contributed to confusion over accountability.

Actions

The council agreed to formalise the matter by issuing an official letter seeking clarification of responsibilities and urging practical solutions. Proposals included field inspections by engineers to assess existing access routes and raising a formal recommendation to the Ministry of Works to prioritise the execution of additional entrances and exits.

The council stressed the importance of accelerating official correspondence to mitigate any future risk and ensure that safety considerations are addressed through clear authority and decisive action.