HIBAPRESS – Casablanca
A group of Casablanca neighborhoods have been experiencing a disastrous situation regarding roads and alleys for some time, a scene that reflects the extent of neglect that has affected the infrastructure, especially in the Sidi Moumen and Azhar neighborhoods, including well-known residences such as Al-Badr residence and Al-Fajr residence, where roads have turned into rough paths unsuitable for the passage of cars or even pedestrians.
Despite the succession of complaints and repeated appeals from the residents, the absence of any serious interaction from the elected councils is noted, which seem not to have given this file the importance it deserves, at a time when road maintenance is one of the simplest priorities of local management, due to its direct impact on safety and quality of life. The recent rainfall has contributed to exposing the true reality of the condition of these roads, revealing the fragility of previous works and the lack of quality in the patchwork repairs that only lasted for a short period, turning the alleys into holes and water pools, increasing the suffering of the residents and endangering their safety, especially children and the elderly. A number of citizens expressed their strong dissatisfaction with this situation, considering that what their neighborhoods are experiencing is not befitting a city the size of Casablanca, and does not align with the official speeches about urban development and improving infrastructure. A political actor also entered the line, dedicating his page on social media to shed light on the dire condition of the roads, especially in Sidi Moumen and Azhar, calling for taking responsibility and linking it to accountability. A number of residents held the elected councils primarily responsible, headed by the Casablanca city council, headed by Nabila Romaili, accusing it of not fulfilling electoral promises, and of inaction and poor management in a vital file that affects the daily lives of thousands of citizens. They also directed accusations to the territorial authorities, headed by Mohamed Mahidiya, the governor of the Casablanca-Settat region, demanding urgent intervention to put an end to this daily bleeding, and to enforce respect for quality standards in the completion of works and the monitoring of public funds. Observers of local affairs believe that the continuation of this situation reflects a real crisis in local governance, and the absence of a clear vision for the rehabilitation of infrastructure in popular neighborhoods, which often remain outside the priorities of development programs, despite the large population density they experience. The question remains urgent: How long will the Casablanca citizen remain a hostage to dilapidated roads and dangerous alleys? Will the responsible parties take action before more serious accidents occur, or will the logic of indifference remain dominant?
