Kuwait is Street 101

According to a rather interesting anecdote, there was a pothole in the middle of one of the busiest roads in a small town, where passerby used to repeatedly trip and fall, hurting themselves. The ambulances rushed to their help would often get delayed, thanks to the condition of the road, thus adding to their woes in ferrying them to nearest hospitals that were at far flung places. An urgent city hall meeting was convened to discuss the problem.

The council extensively debated the issue with some members suggesting to build a new hospital near the pothole. Others suggested that to cut down the expenses, there should be a dedicated ambulance readily available by the side of the pothole while yet others suggested that some warning signs be put around the pothole. Finally, the wise men gathered at the town hall meeting decided to plug the pothole and instead dig an alternative one near the hospital.

This bitterly funny but tragically near the truth anecdote came to my mind as it has been the goings on at Street 101 in Mangaf for a long time. It mirrors what has been happening in Kuwait for decades.

Street 101 is the main street in the area which is always busy and remains congested during the morning and afternoon rush hours, and then again from evening till night.

Months ago, the Ministry of Public Works launched a major project to change the street’s layout by building many round- abouts, closing some turns and widening its lanes. The funny thing is that all these changes will not solve the problem that, basically is on account of the presence of several schools, a coop society, several grocery stores, a water pumping station and the fire brigade being on the same street.

Such facilities, in addition to the slow moving traffic comprising water tanker trucks, are the real problem. The funny and at the same time saddening thing is that a huge mosque is being built currently along the same street, which will surely complicate the problem further because many people are always keen on parking their vehicles just outside the doors of the mosques, blocking both sides of the street while going inside to pray. Who would dare question, stop, or issue a traffic ticket to them, then?

Street 101’s problem is not its size or layout. The right solution lies in relocating at least the water station and the fire brigade since the schools cannot be removed. This will ease the entry and exit of fire engines when needed. The movement of trucks must be monitored and it should be banned during rush hours. Traffic police officers should also be stationed there all the time to organize the traffic flow and issue tickets to those causing inconvenience to others. This is the right solution if any official actually wants to solve the problem. Unfortunately, I don’t think they do. Gentlemen, Street 101 is Kuwait, and, with all its mess and waste of effort, resources and powers, Kuwait is Street 101. — Aljarida

Street 101’s problem is not its size or layout. The right solution lies in relocating at least the water station and the fire brigade since the schools cannot be removed. This will ease the entry and exit of fire engines when needed. The movement of trucks must be monitored and it should be banned during rush hours.