Deal set to ease traffic near Muharraq mall

epa02950811 Traffic is backed-up in the Bahraini capital Manama 04 October 2011 as pro-reform protesters join regular traffic to denounce recent military court sentencing of professionals and political leaders for their alleged role in supporting the protests witnessed in February and March. A military court on 04 October 2011 sentenced 27 Bahrainis to jail terms of up 15 years. 14 of the sentenced belong to the Shiite opposition grouping Islamic Action Society (AMAL), marking the first time that key leaders from a registered political party have been sentenced in Bahrain. Pro-reform protesters attempted to gather on the outskirts of the capital to answer a call by opposition groups to denounce the recent sentencing of medics, professionals, and politicians by the military courts but security forces deployed in force to prevent them. The protest turned into a car march along the same route of the proposed human-chain causing massive traffic jams and limited clashes with police were reported in several areas. EPA/MAZEN MAHDI

 

Manama / Tribune News Service

A deal has been agreed that will hopefully tackle traffic congestion that has plagued neighbours of a popular mall in Muharraq. The agreement will see costs of a new BD300,000 access road shared by government and investors at Seef Mall Muharraq.
It follows a year of negotiations between mall management and the Works, Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Ministry, mediated by the Muharraq Municipal Council. Council chairman Mohammed Al Sinan claims to have been inundated with complaints about bottlenecks caused by mall traffic and last year the council threatened legal action.
Seef Mall Muharraq is a joint venture
by the Bahraini government-owned
Seef Properties, The Malls Company and Hayakala on property owned by the Muharraq Club.
“The deal that has been reached is good in a way as it will resolve a fraction of the congestion problem witnessed in the mall’s surroundings,” said Al Sinan.
“The new road will enable easier flow outside Arad, rather back inside for those seeking to get out. “The approximate cost is BD300,000, it may be more or less,
and it will be shouldered by the parties
involved.
“For now it will relieve us from people’s bombardment demanding action, but more strategic thinking will be required from both sides. “We are not against the mall and over the past year it has become a popular destination for people not just in Muharraq, but from all across the country, but again we have to think about people getting in and out of the area.”
Al Sinan added that in an ideal world the mall would have delayed its opening by five years to allow proper infrastructure development. “When I came to the council in December 2014 I saw artists’ impressions for a new highway and a bridge in the area, but since then I didn’t see anything or any serious talk about it,” he said.
“If the mall accounts for half of the additional traffic congestion, then events, concerts and festivities at the Arad Fort contribute the other half. “Again, all of this is good if people can reach their homes easily and don’t get stuck for 90 minutes.
“The ministry and the mall could further bolster their partnership by financing stalled infrastructure projects that lead to futuristic solutions.” Area MP Ali Al Muqla, who is the council’s former vice-chairman, said his proposal for a major road network in the area was still pending.

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