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Lack of basic facilities in Al Nahda area

SHARJAH - With the increase in volume of residents in the newly developed and upcoming Al Nahda area in Sharjah, the basic infrastructure facilities have failed to keep pace with the rapid development.

Al Nahda area has seen about 45 new high-rise buildings in less than two years, with many currently under way, but the basic civic amenities such as sewerage pipe connection, post office, public telephone booths, government health clinic and proper access roads to buildings seem a distant dream for the residents.

Most of the Al Nahda residents, complain the absence of a comprehensive sewerage network leading to foul odour emanating from the buildings in the area. Besides, the lack of a pay telephone booth in the area, a post office, proper access roads to residential buildings, and a public park, are the need of the hour in the area, which is expanding by leaps and bounds, with thousands of families living there.

Residents continue to complain about sewerage trucks at the entrances of their buildings, which have also become a daily sight in the area with the regular overflow of the sewerage septic pits that are constructed underneath most of the buildings. The area is a familiar sight with new and under-construction buildings signalling the increase in population expected in the next couple of years.

"At the pace, the area is developing, it is surprising that there is no single 'pay telephone' booth in the Al Nahda area stretching from the Al Khan roundabout up to Al Nahda bridge," complained Suresh Nair, a resident of Al Nahda for three years.

He also said that people without telephone connections at home, find difficult to make calls simply for the lack of pay phone booths in the entire Al Nahda area.

Anjum Nishad, says construction of new buildings, many of which are luxury ones is a familiar sight in Al Nahda, but the access roads to these building is still missing. "My car tyres wear out very quickly because of the 'kachha' roads I have to use daily to reach my building," she complained. "When I have to pay such high rents to live in this area, cost of my three bedroom apartment has shot up to Dh44,000 from Dh36,000 last year, I expect the Sharjah Municipality to at least provide the residents with at least the basic road infrastructure."

Mohammed Al Nizari, another resident pointed out that even the Etisalat building in Al Nahda, which was built some two years ago, is yet to get its proper access road. "Why is the Sharjah Municipality ignoring this region," he complained. "If this area is considered to be in demand for residents from the higher income group, the civic facilities should be in place quickly," he said, noting that even the taxi fare to Al Nahda is a whopping Dh10, unlike the Dh5 charged by cabbies plying anywhere else in Sharjah.

"I am seeing the construction of this park for over two years now, but, so far only the boundary wall is complete with the walking track within the park in place. Yet the greening of the park and other amenities for children, found in other Sharjah public parks are missing."

"The strong odour at the entrance of my building is horrible, it is unhealthy and could lead to serious respiratory problems. In the past, sewerage trucks used to come every week, but nowadays, they come to the building on daily basis," Bassil B., a resident at one of Al Nahda buildings, said.

Nizar A., another resident in the area, noted that construction in Al Nahda is booming with the construction of several buildings to accommodate a big volume of residents. "Buildings should be constructed in accordance with an existing infrastructure. I believe that construction in Al Nahda should stop at least until a comprehensive planning for the area is set up," he added.

According to sources in Sharjah Municipality, the area is well planned and many projects are expected to be initiated for providing the basic facilities during the next few months. The sources said that these projects will be executed with the gradual development of the area. They disclosed that pedestrian passes will be soon constructed at most of Al Nahda's streets, adding that flyovers are also being constructed to replace the U-turns, which are causing many traffic accidents.

Sources explained, observing that the plans and designs of the buildings are checked thoroughly, with rigorous follow-up of the civil and construction work being undertaken to ensure they are executed according to project plans accredited by the municipality. They pointed out that the buildings approved by the municipality contain health and gymnasium centres and parking facilities, noting that some of these buildings also include provision for playgrounds.

Commenting on the absence of a post office in Al Nahda, Abdullah Al Daboos, Director-General of Emirates Post said that the postal authority is keen on identifying a place for setting up a post office in the area.