A TEMPORARY ban has been imposed on opening new private schools, institutes and universities in Juffair in a bid to tackle mounting traffic chaos.

Talks are also taking place with existing education centres in a bid to organise the roads, with new routes also due to open to accommodate increasing numbers of cars.

It follows complaints from people living in the area about massive traffic congestion and noise.

There are currently 12 government and private educational facilities in just four blocks in Juffair - 340, 341, 342 and 324.

The Manama Municipal Council had sought a complete ban on new facilities, but Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Minister Dr Juma Al Ka'abi approved only a temporary veto until a new zoning plan is drawn up.

"For now, we accept the minister's decision to impose a ban on the opening of new educational facilities in Juffair," said council technical committee chairman and area councillor Hussain Qarqoor.

"But that doesn't mean we will not push for a permanent one even if studies reveal that there is space for more.

"Juffair is already crowded and full of hotels, furnished apartments, medical amenities and businesses, besides several educational facilities.

"Roads are narrow and were never designed to accommodate the huge numbers it does now and this is why it is seeing huge traffic jams."

Mr Qarqoor, a former engineer at the Muharraq Municipality, said problems were compounded by the fact that some of Juffair's existing education institutes did not have their own car parking facilities.

"Most of those facilities don't have their own car parks, which forces parents and students to park in the street and on the pavement," he said.

"There are several cases in which they park in front of private garages or even inside them.

"Buses transporting younger students tend to take two lanes when passing inside the village or on Juffair's commercial roads, causing chaos that results in people honking loudly - irritating many and robbing them of their peace of mind.

"Vehicles are also dangerous to children even if drivers are not speeding, considering the compactness of the place."

Mr Qarqoor said that since the council could not order the closure of existing educational facilities, it was holding talks with the owners to tackle the problem.

"Since we can't close existing educational facilities, we are forced to reach agreements with them on how to arrange Juffair," he said.

"Meetings are being scheduled with the Works Ministry, representatives of the 12 educational facilities and the council to come up with solutions.

"At the moment, there are plans to open new routes in Juffair, but that is a small fraction of the solution needed to end traffic problems caused by existing educational facilities."

mohammed@gdn.com.bh