BISHA — As old roads all over the Kingdom are being expanded to accommodate growing number of motorists, the four-decade old Bisha Al-Olaya Road has a different story of neglect to tell. Its width has been reduced from 40 to 15 meters as a result of encroachment by private parties. The road, which begins from Wadi Bisha and ends near Arbayan Mountains, had a width of 40 meters. A survey conducted by Okaz/Saudi Gazette found the width of the road, which is one of the arteries of Bisha, has been reduced considerably with some areas having only 15 meters. Constructions on both sides of the road have made it narrow. Residents said the authorities have not taken any action against the private parties who have grabbed substantial part of the road. "For several years the road has been linked with the Bisha Municipality," said Mohammed Al-Muawi. The districts through which the road passes belong to the municipality, which tried to develop the road into a dual carriageway with a median barrier. But the municipality has so far failed to retrieve the land grabbed by neighbors. "This is a vital road and the eastern gateway to Bisha," Al-Muawi told Okaz/Saudi Gazette. He said property owners on both sides have refused to grant land to expand the road and make it a dual carriage way in order to avoid recurrent accidents. "More land is also required to remove dangerous curves on the road," he pointed out. Ali Al-Aklabi, another resident, urged the Bisha Municipal Council to exert more efforts to expand the road and retrieve lands occupied by private parties as quickly as possible. "They have to check the land deeds of people living along the road to retrieve occupied public land." The council should also take the initiative to acquire land required for expansion of the road and make it a dual carriageway as well as to pay compensation to property owners. "The road is a public property and the municipality has to give it top priority to protect public interest and ensure smooth flow of traffic on the road," Al-Aklabi said. The present situation of the road does not reflect the progress achieved by the Bisha governorate, he added. The road should have a width of 40 meters from the beginning till end, Al-Aklabi insisted.
