Drarga-Agadir launches 130 million dirham road upgrade amid infrastructure concerns

Sunday 27 - 17:15

Drarga, a rapidly growing commune in Morocco’s Agadir Ida Outanane prefecture, is facing mounting pressure to upgrade its basic infrastructure as population growth and economic activity continue to reshape the area.

Residents and local associations have raised concerns over deteriorating roads, inadequate sanitation networks, insufficient public lighting, waste management and the lack of green and recreational spaces. The situation has become particularly sensitive in a commune that hosts a major industrial zone and serves as an important access point to Agadir.

Residents call for faster infrastructure upgrades

For residents, the problems are visible in everyday life. Adil Sandadi, a local resident quoted by Le360, described damaged roads and numerous potholes as a persistent difficulty for pedestrians and motorists.

He also pointed to the dust generated by unpaved or degraded roads, saying it affects households and contributes to respiratory problems. Waste accumulation and insufficient cleanliness are additional concerns, with household rubbish and commercial waste contributing to unpleasant conditions in some areas.

The shortage of parks and landscaped public spaces is another issue raised by residents. With the commune's population exceeding 107,000 according to the latest Moroccan census, demand for public amenities has increased alongside urban expansion.

Sandadi also linked infrastructure shortcomings to wider social pressures, including unemployment, homelessness, crime and social tensions. He called for the implementation of a development agreement previously approved by the Drarga municipal council.

Among the projects associated with that agreement is the upgrading of the Aït El Abbas road, an important route connecting the commune with Tikiouine, National Road No. 1 and areas extending toward Tamaait and Houara.

Population growth raises pressure on local services

Local associative actor Mohamed Aït El Moudden argues that demographic growth has made infrastructure investment increasingly urgent.

Drarga is the second-most populous commune in the Agadir Ida Outanane prefecture after the urban commune of Agadir. Its location also gives it strategic importance, with connections to the Marrakech-Agadir motorway and National Road No. 1.

Aït El Moudden has criticized the condition of the commune's infrastructure and called for a comprehensive upgrade of basic services. He also highlighted Drarga's economic role, particularly its industrial activity.

The commune is home to a major industrial zone whose development was launched in 2018 as part of the Souss-Massa regional industrial acceleration plan. The combination of population growth, industrial activity and road traffic has increased the need for infrastructure capable of supporting the area's expansion.

Major road project scheduled to start

Against this backdrop, local authorities have announced the start of a major road rehabilitation project.

Mohamed El Ouanzari, second vice-president of the Drarga commune, said work is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, on the main road crossing the commune.

The project will cover the route from the commune's entrance near National Road No. 1 and the Royal Gendarmerie centre toward the Ibnou Nafiss roundabout, Tlat Izem and the Aït El Fassi bridge in Tigmi Nboubker.

The investment is estimated at around 130 million Moroccan dirhams.

Road works to include drainage and public lighting

The project is expected to go beyond resurfacing damaged sections. According to El Ouanzari, the works will include widening and comprehensively rehabilitating the road, alongside the creation of pedestrian sidewalks and landscaped areas.

Drainage channels for rainwater will also be installed, while public lighting infrastructure will be renewed.

The project additionally includes the removal of medium- and high-voltage electricity poles in areas including Gouira and the entrance to Tagadirt, as part of efforts to reorganize the road corridor.

The works will be divided between two companies. One will handle sections between the Crocoparc roundabout and the Ibnou Nafiss roundabout, as well as the stretch from Tlat Izem to the Iguidar bridge. The second will work on the section from the Tagadirt bridge to the Aït El Fassi limits in Tigmi Nboubker.

The planned completion period for the second section is 12 months.

A test for Drarga's next phase of development

The commune of Drarga is now facing the challenge of aligning its infrastructure with its expanding population and growing economic importance.

The new road project could address several long-standing problems along one of the area's main transport corridors, particularly through improved road conditions, pedestrian facilities, drainage and lighting.

The project is being overseen by the Drarga municipal authority, while Al Omrane has been entrusted with implementation in an effort to streamline administrative procedures, strengthen project monitoring and maintain construction standards.

For residents, however, the road works are only one part of a broader infrastructure challenge. The condition of sanitation networks, waste management, public spaces and other basic facilities remains central to calls for a wider development programme capable of matching Drarga's demographic and economic growth.