Neglected Salmiya loses shine, roads damaged, garbage aplenty

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KUWAIT CITY, July 1: Salmiya, which used to be one of the most significant areas in the country, has suddenly transformed to a perpetually congested area to the extent that vehicles now constitute nuisance to residents whose population as at December 2017 was 297,558, according to latest statistics of the Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI).

The city is divided into two zones; private residential zone where 8,722 citizens live and the investment zone that accommodates 288,836 expatriates. The location lacks sufficient amenities so much so that garbage bins are always full, while the exit points to nearby roads like the Fahaheel Expressway, Fourth Ring Road and Fifth Ring Road are always congested and people waste a lot of time getting out of the area.

Among the several respondents that spoke to the daily on the issue was a Kuwaiti man identified as Mousa Bu Hussein who urged the government to find lasting solution to all inadequacies on Salmiya roads. He specifically mentioned that the roads to private residential areas where citizens live are broken and many of them are neglected, while garbage bins are left filled for a long time.

Commenting, another citizen known as Bu Abdullah stated that Salmiya in the past was regarded as a highbrow investment area. “Unfortunately, the area is now neglected. Whoever moves towards the Fifth Ring Road from Salmiya will find rickety vehicles and old structures, in addition to stray dogs and cats,” he retorted.

According to Umm Mohammad, Salmiya was a relatively peaceful area but the consistent increase in population within the past few years has caused it to lose the status. She made entreaties to the government to provide basic services by building more clinics and schools that can take care of the growing population. She reiterated that branches of the cooperative society are not enough for the population.

For this reason, groceries in the area have been exploiting the opportunity to hike prices of their items. “Things are so bad that some of the groceries only sell subsidized bread to their known customers”, she reiterated.

By Najeh Bilal/ Jaber Al-Hamoud Al-Seyassah Staff and Agencies

This news has been read 11781 times!