DAMMAM: The continuous digging up of roads in the country by companies providing water, sewerage and other utilities is a result of poor coordination between them and municipalities, experts argue.

The government, they say, must look at constructing tunnels beneath roads where these services can be installed, which would prevent the drilling of holes and ditches that cause inconvenience and damage to cars.

Yusuf Ahmed, a citizen, said: “There has been constant drilling in all our streets for a long time, which has damaged them and cars.” Government agencies must coordinate their work and have a toll free number set up for complaints, he said.

Saud Al-Ansari said his car recently fell into a hole in Dammam. “I did not get any compensation or assistance to pay for the damages to the car. We should follow the example of neighboring countries to see how these projects are implemented,” he said.

Abdul Hameed Al-Muajil, chairman of the Saudi Society for Traffic Safety, said that citizens are constantly having their lives disrupted by the various utility providers. “Once a project is complete, another provider comes along and does the same thing, without prior warning,” he said.

He said lack of coordination between government agencies and service companies have led to this situation, which was a waste of public money and a great inconvenience to the public.

Eastern Province Mayor Fahd Al-Jubeir said the municipality is in constant contact with service providers to ensure projects are completed effectively. “However, sometimes roads have to be dug up again. In addition, some contractors neglect to re-asphalt the roads.”

He said the municipality was in the process of setting up a committee to ensure that projects are coordinated properly, and punish contractors who do not produce quality work.