Landscapes are being developed along a highway at the Industrial Area by Ashghal in coordination with Public Parks Department. Pic: Baher Amin / The Peninsula
DOHA: To make Qatar green and beautiful, landscaping will be done on large areas of land along all highways, said Mohammed Ali Al Khouri, Director of Public Parks Department at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment.
Commenting on an under-development project along the newly-built highway near Industrial Area, Al Khouri said: “Public Works Authority (Ashghal) in coordination with the Public Parks Department is implementing a project to develop landscapes with trees, grass, flower plants, and shrubs along the highways.”
The official further said that all new highway projects would have plants and trees.
The Peninsula noted that landscapes are being developed on kilometers-long stretch at the highway located opposite Asian Town near Al Watan petrol station at the Industrial Area. The landscapes with trees and shrubs are turning the area greener and beautiful.
“Public Parks Department will announce new projects about building new parks and other related projects within two months,” said Al Khouri.
Speaking about the ambitious public parks project, Mohammed Ali Al Khouri, Director of Public Parks Department at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, said: “We plan to develop parks in every area with preference to develop bigger parks that can fully cater the need of that respected area and the surrounding localities. Like, Al Khor Park which is visited by large number of people even from Doha.”
He said that as per the plan, parks will be built as per available spaces in the respective areas while the parks would have children’s play areas, walkways for joggers and fitness equipment among many more facilities.
Speaking about the family parks, Al Khouri said that such parks were being built as per the demand of people and they had been found suitable for everyone including women, children and senior citizens.
The official said that with the arrival of winter season, the Department planned to open parks till late night. “Public parks will remain open until 12 midnight during winter. If people want to stay for longer in the parks, we do not have objection to extend the timing,” said Al Khouri.
However, he said, the parks operating in residential areas would be closed by 9pm to 10pm if the Department received complaints about noise and disturbance due to presence of people in the parks.
“The free Wi-Fi services which is available at nine parks across the country will start working smoothly very soon,” said Al Khouri, adding that the service would be added to other parks as well.
He said that the Public Parks Department had signed an agreement with Vodafone which was doing necessary maintenance to resume the service to parks facing disruptions. “The Department plans to provide plants and seedlings to home-gardens starting from November when the weather becomes favorable for cultivation,” said Al Khouri.
