Doha: Qatar’s Public Bus Infrastructure Programme is being executed at a fast pace to achieve required integration between public transit systems.
The programme, which aims at enhancing Qatar’s position as a leading country in using eco-friendly electric vehicles, will also increase public transit ridership in the next few years, said a post by the Ministry of Transport on its Twitter handle.
The programme will support transit operation during Qatar 2022 and will also offer high quality service and facilities with world best technologies and specifications that reflect Qatar’s advanced public transit system.
It will help in reducing carbon emissions of fossil fuel vehicles and improve overall air and climate quality in Qatar, the post added.
The Public Bus Infrastructure Programme aims at creating an integrated and sustainable public transit network to cover all urban areas through a coherent transportation that includes public transit buses, the Doha Metro and the Lusail Tram.
In November 2021, Al Sudan Bus Station was also inaugurated, which is equipped with electric charging equipment, as part of the strategy of switching to electric vehicles.
Al Sudan Bus Station is strategically located near the Sudan Metro Station and Al Sadd SC southwards. The western side of the station is neighbouring the Aspire Zone, the Villagio Mall and the Torch Tower and other nearby destinations. Built in an area of 65,216 sq. m., the station accommodates 7 bus bays that can operate 22 buses per hour, distributed on 4 routes with a total capacity of 1750 passengers per day, to reach 7 destinations, particularly the metro stations and bus stations located within a close range.
Under the programme’s fifth package, four bus depots are being established at Lusail, Al Rayyan, Al Wakra and New Industrial Area. The new depots will include a bus care centre and bus parking spaces fully equipped with an infrastructure supportive of e-bus charging.
The bus depot in Lusail will have parking canopies powered by highly efficient solar panels, making it the first bus depot in the region to rely on solar energy as a renewable source of clean energy. The solar panels – totaling 10,720 units to generate four megawatts per day - plus the power station as a conventional source of energy, will provide the necessary energy for operating electric charging devices and the whole project at large, in line with highest standards and specifications.
The programme also includes establishing a ferry terminal and parking spaces (water taxi) under the fourth package in Lusail, Doha Port, Hamad International Airport and The Pearl, in addition to establishing a bus terminal in the West Bay.
Recently operations of the first phase of Lusail Tram also started. The first phase features the inauguration of six Orange Line stations namely Marina, Marina Promenade, Yacht Club, Esplanade, Energy City South, in addition to Legtaifiya, which is a combined Tram and Doha Metro station.
The success of the programme can also be gauged from the fact that Mowasalat (Karwa) shuttled more than 1.4 million passengers in more than 190,000 bus service hours, at a record number of 4000 buses across all of its services for FIFA Arab Cup 2021.
For the purpose, Mowasalat had employed and trained thousands of drivers, mechanics, and professional bus operations staff, and bought an entire fleet of 3000 clean diesel and electric buses to cater for all shuttle needs during the matches.
