Rashid Taleb Al Nabet (right), MOTC’s Assistant Undersecretary of Land Transport Affairs, shaking hands with Badr Omar Al Mana, GBM Qatar Board Chairman, during the signing ceremony at Ministry of Transport and Communications yesterday. Pic: Abdul Basit /
Doha: The Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC) unveiled its Integrated Automated Fare Collection and Ticketing System for public transportation by signing the project contract yesterday with Gulf Business Machines Qatar (GBM) in partnership with MSI Global of Singapore.
Planned to be complete and begin operation in 2020, the new system provides a unified ticketing mechanism for public transport within Qatar’s internal transportation network, latest credit card payment technologies in addition to payment via smartphones and smartwatches.
In a statement, Minister of Transport and Communications H E Jassim Saif Al Sulaiti said that the project comes within the Ministry’s efforts to further improve the performance and integration of the country’s transportation system to achieve the economic objectives associated with transportation efficiency and effectiveness.
He said it would also encourage the public to use this well-equipped and modern public transit easily and smoothly, within a framework of collaboration between Qatar Railways Company (Qatar Rail) and Mowasalat “Karwa”. This, he added, would help in the integration of all current and future land and marine transport networks.
“This system will encourage people to use different mode of public transport such as metro, tram and buses. This will have a positive impact on environment and public health as there will be less vehicles on the roads,” said Rashid Taleb Al Nabet, Assistant Undersecretary of Land Transport Affairs, MOTC, talking to reporters on the sidelines of a press conference held yesterday at the ministry’s headquarters at West Bay.
The project aims to achieve a paradigm shift in terms of public transit performance by founding an integrated, multimodal clearinghouse system in line with best world standards in addition to raising the efficiency of the land transport network in general, he added.
There are numerous advantages for public transit users who will be able to use a single ticket for all means of transport.
The tickets will be easy to buy and recharge, let alone the flexibility and comfort when using public transit, parking lots and sports stadiums, he added.
The project aims to improve Qatar’s transportation system functionality, achieve integration and encourage people to use public transport more frequently by providing a more flexible and seamless system. It also aims to achieve a set of environmental goals by helping in reducing emissions that result from high use of private vehicles.
Additionally, it aims to apply the country’s transportation systems integration plans through deploying world’s latest technologies and best standards.
Moreover, the new system would also help increase traffic safety, achieve the economic goals associated with the efficiency of mobility, transportation and logistics services. The structure of the new project has multiple components for a unified fare collection and ticketing system, including ticketing, ticket vending machines, standalone validators and central clearinghouse. Al Nabet said that the public would use the new system very easily on all needs related to public transportation such as the metro, the Lusail Light Rail Transit (LRT) system, buses, taxis and marine transport.
He added that improving mobility and comfort for people, increasing traffic safety, reducing energy consumption, limiting impact on the environment and increasing productivity are some of the new system’s top features.
For public transit operators, he said, the new system is helping reduce costs associated with ticketing systems, machines and maintenance and provide continued supply of data; which would help monitor the curve of demand, draw and apply best operational plans, improve the network, update prices and guarantee a safe e-payment.
