Saudi Gazette report

BISHA – People living in Bisha governorate have called for improving the performance of various service agencies to realize their hopes and aspirations. They demanded development of disorganized districts and implementation of infrastructure projects such as bridges and roads.

“Many residential districts in the eastern and southern parts of Bisha lack basic services,” said Fayez Al-Salouli, a resident while speaking to Al-Hayat Arabic daily.

“We have been facing delay in building organized residential districts. As a result a number of disorganized districts have cropped up in the middle and southern parts of Bisha,” he said while stressing the need for overall development of the city.

“We need parks, recreation centers, pedestrian paths alongside roads and street lights in addition to bridges and inter-junctions for a smooth traffic,” Al-Salouli said.

He said during the past five years the municipality was implementing projects that do not meet citizens’ requirements. “We have to expand the road linking Hazmi township with Bisha and make it a dual carriageway to reduce accidents and facilitate easy traffic,” he explained.

Other projects required by the city include construction of a road linking Wadi Tarj with Bisha, a primary healthcare center in Wadi Tarj and a drinking water network.

Obaid Al-Bishi has said the present health center in Hazmi serve people of 100 nearby villages. He also spoke about the lack of safety measures on Bisha-Rayen-Riyadh Road, which is linked to Khamis Mushayt-Abha Road. “This road requires bridges and exits to avoid accidents,” said Awad Al-Shahrani.

Bisha needs greater health facilities as King Abdullah Hospital operates to full capacity and the increasing number of patients put pressure on its medical staff. Al-Shahrani stressed the need to complete the maternity and children’s hospital in Bisha quickly.

King Abdullah Hospital receives patients transferred from Tathleeth, Raniya and Sabt Al-Olaya general hospitals as well as accident victims from six major roads, he pointed out.

There are 85 health centers in Bisha, which served more than a million patients last year. Health centers provide various services to mothers and children and reduce pressure on hospitals.

Bisha people called for the establishment of a Saudi section at the Passport Department in the city. “At present we have to visit the Jawazat in Abha, traveling 200 km to apply for passport.”

Nasser Al-Shahrani called upon the Asir governorate to set up a technical committee to follow up implementation of municipal and other development projects in Bisha.