Senior officials of the Ministry of Municipality and Environment speak during the press conference held yesterday to provide the details of the master development plan on spatial development schemes for the municipalities and new planning guidelines for Q
Under the master development plan of the country, the Ministry of Municipality and Environment has identified areas to build about 16 new urban centers across six municipalities to speed up the development .
The municipalities of Doha, Al Rayan, Al Shihaniya, Al Dain, Umm Salal and Al Shamal have been selected for the establishment of the 16 urban centers and the exact locations will be announced soon.
The new centers will have residential, commercial and multi-purpose facilities, public transport network, metro and bus stations, parks and amusement places and all required amenities.
As per the plan, clear guidelines will be given to the developers to build environment friendly facilities on the pattern of Qatari architect to highlight the Qatari identity. The guidelines will include rules and regulations related to heights and designs of the buildings and commercial streets among many others.
To reduce the traffic congestion, business hubs will be also available to create job opportunities to the residents of urban centers.
These details were given by senior officials of the Ministry in a press conference held yesterday wherein details of the master development plan on spatial development schemes for the municipalities and new planning guidelines for Qatar were announced.
The Ministry will organize seminars later to introduce these plans and guidelines at six municipalities including Doha, Al Rayan, Al Shihaniya, Al Dain, Umm Salal and Al Shamal, said the officials.
The spatial development schemes of six municipalities were designed as an integration of the plans of two municipalities - Al Wakra, Al Khor-and-Al Zakhira that were approved in 2008 in a bid to make planning framework and guidelines for utilizing the lands at each municipality. The vision and goals for all municipalities by 2032 have been designed to tackle the future challenges.
The official also said that the Ministry is ready to implement new development guidelines by the beginning of January 2018 in a bid to build a complete planning system as per the Qatar National Vision 2030 and general development policy of the country.
The new planning guidelines are considered a starting point for creating an attractive urban environment however, the master plan of Qatar is an important part in term of achieving national vision that explains how to deal in better way with the future population growth under the directive of urban development carefully.
Speaking at the press conference, Engineer Fahad Mohamad Al Qahtani, Assistant Undersecretary for Urban Planning Affairs at the Ministry said that the master plan of the country embodies spatial urban development process and reflects Qatar’s National Vision 2030 and general development policy of the country.
“Qatar National Vision is soul of the development strategy of the country and it opens door to conversion of hydrocarbon-based economy to a knowledge based and services economy,” said Engineer Abdullah Ahmad Al Karani, Director of Urban Development Department at the Ministry.
Al Karani said that in this framework, the master development plan of the country is considered a tool to achieve the spatial development goals. “On this point, the spatial development plan on national level was made to chalk out plans, policies and procedures at all municipalities to guide the sustainable urban life to 21st century,” said Al Karani.
He said that the master plan of the country that includes new planning guidelines will meet the ambition of the country in term of attracting investments, providing high level education and researches.
“It will also help in attracting sport events, international conferences and tourists,” said Al Karani, adding that these things will be organized adhering to the Qatari tradition, identity and Islamic values.
He said that the master development plan has suitable mechanism for making an active planning system in a bid to improve the urban environment and boost the real estate market creating balance in demand and supply. The master development plan can assess the problems before they happen and bring about appropriate solution for this,” said Jaber Abdullah Al Qatiri, Head of the General Planning Unit at the Ministry.
He said that the vision of master plan aims at creating a model for sustainable development life in 21st century and best cities for living by developing several urban centers gradually with mixed population and uses as a role model for development focusing on public transport in a bid to achieve balanced growth and diversify the investments.
“The hierarchy of the centers will encourage building multi-used facilities and multiple densities and it will also achieve efficiency and fair use of investments at national level in the fields of transport, services and infrastructure development to ensure the sustainable development,” said Al Qatiri.
“The master plan will help push the sustainable development and bring about new high level urban life style by making spatial development schemes for the municipalities giving a future picture for development in all municipalities within next 15 years,” he added.
He added that spatial development schemes for the municipalities are comprising strategy, future vision development strategy for the municipality and planning guidelines for developing the areas, using lands, plans for dividing areas and details plans for areas to implement on priority basis.
