Gulf Air F1 Grand Prix Bahrain kicked off on Friday amidst tight security measures put in place by the authorities in and around the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) in Sakhir.
The Government repeatedly said that there was no security issue in Bahrain which was also endorsed by Bernie Ecclestone, Formula One Chief Executive.
The Bahrain International Circuit officials, backed by the law enforcement agencies, carry out a complete check of the credentials, i.e. tickets, vehicle parking sticker, credentials of the journalists and the visitors before clearing the vehicles to enter the BIC area.
On day, Friday, it takes more than half an hour at an average for each vehicle to clear all check posts from the Sakhir Highway to the BIC.
The BIC Chairman earlier told 24X7 News that the security was a non issue for F1 Grand Prix in Bahrain.
To keep the traffic movement smooth during the all three days of the event, the Government had announced a comprehensive plan.
General Director of Traffic Colonel Shaikh Abdulrahman bin Subah Al Khalifa said that in line with the directives of Interior Minister a comprehensive traffic plan was designed for the Formula One being held from April 20 to 22.
He said that a work plan has been prepared to deal with the F1 throughout its three days, in which traffic presence would be intensified through the distribution of traffic police in fix and moving points on roads leading to the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC), starting from the Bahrain International Airport and leading to Muharraq’s three bridges, Al Fateh road, Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman road, Salman road, Shaikh Isa bin Salman road, Shaikh Jaber Ahmed Al Subah road, Al Muaskar road and finely Awali roundabout that leads to Al Zalaq junction, Shaikh Hamad road in Hamad Town and Wali Al Ahad road. Traffic patrols would also be deployed near the northern gate of the University of Bahrain until Zaid bin Omira junction and Al Areen roundabout.
The General Director said that traffic patrols would be equipped with devices and equipments, while an office to deal with traffic accidents would be allocated in car parking (10) of the BIC for fast processing of applications and prevention of wrong parking, in which cars hindering traffic would be removed.
Meanwhile He said that routine traffic operations would be carried out normally throughout the race period as all accident and fine offices would be opened as usual, while traffic patrols would carry their duties at all the Kingdom’s roads. As the last day of the race would be a working day for all government and private organsiations, he announced a plan to deal with traffic emergency, especially during the beak traffic period.
He concluded that to get ready for any increase the F1 visitors, the General Directorate has also prepared a plan to facilitate the movement of huge number of vehicles within short period without traffic disturbances. He called upon F1 visitors to go to the BIC early and don’t forget their tickets as well as placing the parking stickers on their cars to facilitate their entrance to the BIC as well as cooperate with traffic police deployed at the circuit and stick to instructions, especially road diversions for the success of F1.