File picture used for representation only.
To tackle the growing problem of traffic congestion particularly during school hours, the Ministry of Transport and Communications has launched an online survey to collect feedback from the public.
“Obtaining feedback from parents is vital to the review process,” the Ministry announced on its website while launching the online survey.
Along with road safety and minimising traffic accidents and fatalities, the traffic congestion problem is also on the radar of the authorities and different departments concerned are already making policies and executing them to accomplish the job.
“The Ministry of Transport & Communications (MOTC) is jointly conducting an online survey with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education as a step toward reducing peak hour road traffic congestion in the State of Qatar,” the Ministry said.
The ministry has encouraged parents to take part in the survey. “We would appreciate you taking the time to complete the following survey. It should take about 5 minutes of your time. Your responses are voluntary and will be confidential.”
A report released by the Qatar Mobility Innovations Center (QMIC) around two months ago had shown a significant rise in the economic cost due to traffic congestions in the country, reaching up to QR6.6bn in 2016 from QR6bn estimated in 2015.
The study, however, had also indicated an improvement in the situation during the second half of last year (2016) as a result of completion of several road projects being carried out by the Public Works Authority (Ashghal).
Brigadier Mohammed Saad Al Kharji, Director of the Traffic Department (General Directorate of Traffic), who was present during the presentation of the independent study, said that the traffic scenario depicted in the report was “temporary” and a clear picture would emerge only when all the road projects would be completed, hopefully in three years.
Along other basic information like nationality, address etc., the participants of the survey have to fill spaces regarding ‘family monthly income range’, ‘number of owned/leased cars’, and ‘how many of your children are attending school in Qatar?’
To address traffic congestion during school hours, the authorities have also been encouraging parents to send their kids to school on school buses. National Traffic Safety Committee (NTSC) also launched a campaign in the end of last year to promote the use of school buses instead of private vehicles.
Sharing figures with media, NTSC General Manager Kim Jraiw had said that only 45 percent students of Independent Schools and 60percent students of private schools were using school buses while others were being transported through private vehicles. While launching the campaign along Ministry of Education and Higher Education, NTSC had announced to make 80percent students travel via school buses.
