Most of the streets on the eastern side of Doha Industrial Area, which have not seen maintenance for several years, are full of potholes and require a thorough repair.

"It is extremely difficult to drive through these streets," a regular visitor to the location told Gulf Times. As there are hardly any motorable stretches on streets 36 to 43, motorists have no option but to use the "service" areas, which are not much better.

The "roundabouts" on Street 57 (Al Manajer Street) have been in a highly dilapidated state for long. Large "craters" have replaced the roundabouts and motorists unfamiliar with the area end up in trouble after their vehicles fall into them.

These streets are used daily by heavy trailers and trucks carrying goods from and to the warehouses of most of Doha's food suppliers in addition to construction vehicles and equipment. Owing to the deplorable conditions of the streets, there have been reports of such vehicles frequently getting stuck in the "craters".

"The automobile workshops in the area get good business as many heavy vehicles get damaged on these streets," a resident of one of the accommodations of the area said.

When it is raining, the entire area remains inaccessible as most streets are marooned and muddy environs make life extremely difficult, for the residents.

The waterlogging of many streets for several weeks after rains has led to extreme growth of the common reed and other vegetation, the best example being Street 42, hindering traffic.

Though works are expected to start in some of the streets as part of the infrastructure development to be undertaken in the area, no one knows for sure when they would eventually start.

The delay is not only causing undue hardships to the inmates of the accommodations but also to those numerous distribution vehicles operating to and from the area.