Doha: Under Qatar’s public transit program, ferry terminals and parking spaces to be built in Lusail, Doha Port, Hamad International Airport and The Pearl.
The project has been submitted to start construction works, according to details recently shared by the Ministry of Transport and Communications through a detailed infographic posted on its Twitter account.
The Public Bus Infrastructure Program in Qatar has four main projects to support switching to clean energy including ‘Park and Ride’, ‘Bus Terminals’, ‘Ferry Terminals’ and ‘Bus Depots’.
The main objectives of the program are to achieve integration between public transit systems; support transit operations during FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022; enhance Qatar’s position as a leading country in using eco-friendly electric vehicles; increase public transit ridership in the next few years.
Also to offer high quality service and facilities with world best technologies and specifications that reflect Qatar’s advanced public transit sector and to reduce carbon emissions of fossil fuel vehicles and improve overall air and climate quality in Qatar are other objectives of the program.
Regarding ‘Park and Ride’, the MoTC said that the project belongs to the first package projects of the program. Park and Ride sites at Al Qassar and Al Wakra were inaugurated for the public in January 2020 while sites in Lusail and Education City are near 100% completion and are ready to open soon.
Under the program, 7 bus terminals are being built in the country and this project is within the second and third packages of the program.
Works on bus terminal sites in Lusail, Al Wakra, Al Sudan, Education City and Industrial Area are 68% complete and would be fully complete during Q3 of 2021. According to MoTC’s infographic, works on bus terminal sites in Msheireb and Al Gharafa are 31% complete and would be fully delivered during Q1 of 2022.
The ‘Ferry Terminals’ project is under the fourth package of the program. The project consists of establishing ferry terminals and parking spaces (water taxi) in Lusail, Doha Port, Hamad International Airport and The Pearl and also establishing a bus terminal in the West Bay. “It has been submitted to start construction works,” the Ministry said.
Four Bus Depots’ construction is under the program’s fifth package and they are being built in Lusail, Al Rayyan, Al Wakra and New Industrial Area. Main facilities at these bus depots include bus parking spaces fully equipped with an infrastructure supportive of e-bus charging; bus care centers; residential, recreational facilities and mosques; and control center.
According to information shared by the Ministry, Lusail Bus Depot is the first depot in the region to depend on solar energy as a renewable source of clean energy in line with highest standards and specifications.
It will have solar panels totaling 10, 720 units to generate four megawatts per day plus the power station to provide the necessary energy for operating electric charging devices and the project at large; five 300 kilowatt fast bus electric charging devices; 217 150 kilowatt dual bus charging devices; and 474 bus parking spaces.
Establishing the bus parking spaces and solar panel canopies are scheduled to complete in Q4 of 2021 while the bus depot in Lusail is expected to complete in Q1 of 2022.
