In just 13 days the 25th Gulf Cup Football Championship kicks off in Basra (Gulf 25), and the Abdali border crossing with Iraq is awaiting action from the concerned authorities to address the lack of infrastructure, as thousands of vehicles and soccer lovers from the Gulf countries are expected to flood the port to attend the soccer matches.
Informed sources told a local Arabic daily that the border post requires being equipped with the necessary manpower and technology to deal with the expected human influx, so as to ensure the smooth movement — exit and entry.
The intensive operation of the crossing also requires modifying the rugged road leading to the border point, in addition to the poor condition of the Abdali road, which needs maintenance worthy of it as an international road, and also the development of work mechanisms and coordination between the concerned authorities, in addition to the importance of being prepared to prevent the entry of prohibited items into the country, amid tightening security measures and raising the efficiency of the inspection devices.
The sources revealed a joint meeting was held between the Ministry of Interior and Customs at the Abdali port, to develop concepts and quick solutions to receive sports fans from Kuwait and the Gulf countries, saying that “work is still slow and did not rise to the level of the event, with time passing quickly since it is evident that the Iraqi side has completed its preparations at the Safwan crossing in just a few days.
The sources pointed out that the customs yard is very narrow, in addition to the current mechanism for the traveler to stop and get off his vehicle and go to the passport hall to stamp his passport, which will create unusual congestion, given the narrowness of the port yard and the failure to accommodate vehicles.
According to the sources, the best proposal is to prepare a parking space for vehicles, and use the busses to transport passengers to the port and from there into Iraq, because it is faster and safer, instead of allowing thousands of vehicles to enter given that there are only two inspection booths.
