ABHA — It is frightening to drive through the unpaved narrow road, a length of 76 kilometers, of Uqbat Dhalae as it witnesses tragic accidents quite often. Okaz/Saudi Gazette visited Uqbat Dhalae and met with a number of citizens in nearby villages during a tour of the Asir region. The citizens have called for the construction of a new road for Uqbat to meet the requirements of its growing population. The tour covered Al-Farain township whose citizens called for the expansion of its health center, which has only one general doctor to treat 15,000 people. The residents asked authorities to stop the wrong parking of big trucks along the Taif-Abha Road, causing traffic congestion and accidents. People traveling through Al-Farain find it difficult because of its non-asphalted road. The township requires an office of the Civil Defense Department and a new market. "Work on the new road connecting Al-Farain and Al-Souh has been disrupted," said Ali Saleh Al-Makhfour. "Work on the road stopped about two years ago," he added. A board has been erected along the road saying it has been completed and handed over to authorities by the contractor, Al-Makhfour told Okaz/Saudi Gazette. Ahmed Mohammed Al-Hamlan spoke about poor performance of Al-Farain municipality. "Many residents have left the township for Ahad Rafeeda and Khamis Mushait seeking better public services. We lack communication services and sewage projects," he added. Khaled Bin Faisal Bin Hamlan spoke about encroachment on public and white lands in the township and hoped authorities would take action against such violators. "Businessmen have refused to invest in the township due to lack of electricity and water, poor road system and lack of government departments," Hamlan said while urging businessmen and government agencies to develop Al-Farain as a tourist resort in the region.
