Doha: Under the patronage of Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, Minister of Transport H E Jassim Saif Ahmed Al Sulaiti yesterday launched the Transportation Master Plan for Qatar 2050 (TMPQ).
The TMPQ works as a roadmap for investing in land transportation infrastructure and also identifies the frameworks and future orientations for developing the transportation networks nationwide in a way that ensures their integration with land uses, urban development, population growth and meeting the future demand for transportation.
Minister of Environment and Climate, H E Sheikh Dr. Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed bin Ali Al Thani; President of Planning and Statistics Authority, H E Dr. Saleh bin Mohammad Al Nabit; President of the Public Works Authority (Ashghal), Dr. Eng. Saad bin Ahmad Al Muhannadi; CEO of Qatari Diar, Eng. Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah, and several senior officials and leaders of relevant public and private sector entities, attended the event.
To implement land transport strategies under TMPQ, a total of 286 schemes will be launched including 86 schemes for highways, 22 schemes for goods transport, 54 public transport schemes, 21 schemes for pedestrians, 29 cycling schemes, and 74 schemes for cross-modal and integration.
For future highway schemes, there are 37 infrastructure schemes of 770km length, 22 are truck schemes and 10 will be infrastructure/facilities schemes. Under public transport schemes, there are 30 schemes for upgrading the main public transport network with a length of 540km.
Minister of Transport H E Jassim Saif Ahmed Al Sulaiti (centre), Minister of Environment and Climate H E Sheikh Dr. Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed bin Ali Al Thani (third left), President of Planning and Statistics Authority H E Dr. Saleh bin Mohammad Al Nabit (third right), President of the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) Dr. Eng. Saad bin Ahmad Al Muhannadi (second left), CEO of Qatari Diar Eng Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah (second right) at the launch of Transportation Master Plan for Qatar 2050 (TMPQ). Pic: Mohamed Farag
The TMPQ has developed over 60 transportation strategies to handle current and future challenges to align with the land transport vision and aspirations according to best international practices.
Talking to the media at the event, Minister of Transport Jassim Saif Ahmed Al Sulaiti said that the (transportation) plan for 2022 has been implemented and the new plan begins which is slated to be launched at the end of 2022 because it will actually start in 2023 for 30 years.
“The new plan includes all aspects such as construction methods, places of construction, complete urban expansion, road pattern, a complete plan involving the Ministry of Municipality, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Public Works Authority (Ashghal), General Directorate of Traffic, for incorporating security and safety.”
He said that the land users can go through the plan for future projects. “It is also a roadmap for future construction method to ease investment process."
“The plan once completed in 2050 is expected to save QR300bn in terms of safety, security, reducing fuel consumption and other components which will lead to this huge saving.” “We are very happy to launch the plan on due date and it will be implemented from today on main communication platforms. A five-year plan will also be provided as every five years the plan will be updated. The next five-year plan from now will be handed over to Ashghal,” he said.
The TMPQ also includes developing technical manuals at the national level like the Qatar Highway Design Manual, which provides guidelines on planning future transit networks, and the Qatar Trip Generation and Parking Rate Manual (QTGPRM), which helps understand trip and parking rates.
In a separate statement, Minister Al Sulaiti said that sustainability is the cornerstone of TMPQ, given the great impact this concept has on economic and environmental development, by striking a balance between the requirements of economic growth and environmental protection and contributing to reducing climate change by putting into effect long-term initiatives that contribute to transitioning to sustainable transportation.
The TMPQ, he added, also helps achieve financial sustainability of the land transportation sector by covering the largest possible ratio of operating costs through executing transportation demand management policies, and public-private partnerships for investing in and contributing to building and operating the country’s transportation systems.
He said that the plan will have significant economic returns thanks to increased revenues and the benefits of saving vehicle-operating cost, saving energy and fuel consumption, reducing trip time, and lowering carbon emissions and road accidents.
Minister Al Sulaiti and other senior officials later toured the accompanying exhibition and were briefed on the components of the Plan and its projects.
Acting Assistant Undersecretary, Land Transport Affairs, Ministry of Transport, Eng. Hamad Essa Abdulla, said that executing the TMPQ enhances Qatar’s ranking as one of the world’s most sustainable countries for deploying innovative, sustainable transit solutions that support all aspects of development and this helps improve the quality of life for citizens and everyone living in Qatar, while preserving the national identity.
“The TMPQ includes an integrated set of initiatives and projects that serve all users of land transportation systems and networks through 2050, including expressways, public transit, pedestrians, bicycles, land transportation demand management, and other transit technologies,” he said.
He added: “Among the TMPQ’s key components and deliverables is developing over 60 national land transportation policies for Qatar that will help ensure further development of transportation services, in addition to putting forth 286 schemes and projects through 2050, including for developing road networks and public transportation, transportation services management, laws and governance, transportation technologies, planning and feasibility studies.” Additionally, he said, smart electronic platforms have been created to ensure data sharing with all concerned entities for a safe and sustainable access to data and optimal use of it in land transportation projects.
