While it has been close to nine years since the public transport service started operations, facilities at the Doha Bus Station are still not up to the mark, feel many regular passengers
Scorching conditions have once again brought to the fore the need for better amenities for commuters both at the Doha Bus Station (DBS) in Al Ghanim and bus stops across the country.
While it has been close to nine years since the public bus service started operations, facilities at DBS are still not up to the mark, feel many regular passengers. As a result, people waiting in the open under the burning sun continue to be a common sight at DBS despite the series of announcements in recent years on improving amenities.
“Sometimes, we are forced to wait for buses for an hour or longer in the open,” said a low-income Nepalese bachelor.
While the transport company repeatedly highlights the necessity of promoting the UITP’s (International Association of Public Transport’s) ongoing global campaign “grow with public transport”, basic issues like providing better facilities at the central bus station are yet to be adequately addressed, feel commuters.
“It is high time that at least the waiting facility is converted into a covered hall, protecting passengers from the burning conditions, if not turned it into an air-conditioned shelter,” said an expatriate who uses buses for travel at regular intervals.
Commuters also point to the urgent need for shaded bus stops. “Waiting for a bus at an uncovered bus stop can be unbearable under the prevailing weather. Something needs to be done urgently to provide some respite to passengers,” said a resident.
With buses being operated to many more destinations now than two or three years ago, there has been a significant rise in the number of passengers as well.
“There should at least be an adequate number of urinals, along with better waiting facilities at the bus station,” a resident pointed out recently on a popular social networking site.
While more is spoken these days about the new bus station coming up in Al Khor and a parking facility being developed in Ain Khalid, little is said about the development of the bus station in Al Ghanim.
When contacted, a senior Mowasalat official said the ongoing road and other infrastructure works in different parts of the state had hit the expansion of the bus route network. However, there are some positive developments such as the introduction of services to the new Hamad International Airport.
Bus service to HIA evokes good response
Enquiries are pouring in from residents about the availability of the bus service to the newly-opened Hamad International Airport (HIA). An official at the enquiry office said that a large number of people were approaching them to know about the timings of the service to HIA. “Every day, at least 50-60 people are making enquiries over telephone and in person on the service to the new airport,” he added.
A significant number of passengers, including staff, are using the bus service to travel to the airport in the evenings, he said. “If the patronage remains good, Mowasalat would consider operating more services to the airport soon.”
A company official at the Doha Bus Station (DBS) said one could use the non-stop HIA buses (No 747) to travel between the airport and DBS for around QR3. The non-stop service takes between 20 and 25 minutes to reach HIA from the bus station. Besides, there is a bus going to Mesaieed Industrial City (119) via HIA. Both the services are operated in either direction at intervals of 15 and 45 minutes.
