Phase 1 of the Doha Metro is almost nearing completion and all three lines are expected to be operational next year despite significant challenges, Qatar Rail CEO and managing director Abdulla Abdulaziz al-Subaie has said.
He was speaking after receiving ‘Qatari Engineer of the Year 2018’ award, instituted by the Engineers Forum Qatar, recently. Indian ambassador P Kumaran, who was the chief guest at the ceremony, presented the award. Al-Subaie said he was receiving the award on behalf of the entire Qatar Rail company and its partners, without whom, he said none of their company’s achievements would have been possible.
At the function, al-Subaie praised Qatar’s unwavering commitment to its values and goals and to the strategic leadership and overall vision laid out for Qatar by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.
Through such achievements as the Qatar Rail, Qatar has shown the world that it is capable of planning and executing complex mega projects to the highest international standards, said the senior Qatari engineer. “At the same time, one of the key strategic objectives of this and other state-sponsored projects has been to develop the skills and expertise of Qatari engineers at all levels and in all disciplines,” he observed. Al-Subaie emphasised that Qatar Rail is proud to have contributed to the future of Qatar in this way.
While welcoming the guests earlier, Engineers Forum chairman N V Raghavan explained the process and procedures for the selection of the award winner and informed the selection of engineer al-Subaie was unanimous.
He also elaborated on the two criteria for selection of the award. “The first is that the recipient should be a Qatari engineer who has contributed in the engineering sector making the life of people better. The other is that he should be a role model, whom others would want to emulate,” said the forum chief to thumping applause.
While presenting the award, ambassador Kumaran explained the importance of strengthening the relationship of India with Qatar in the fields of technology and engineering. While lauding the Engineers Forum, Kumaran also reiterated that events like the award function will help in cementing the Indo-Qatari relationship.
Earlier, Qatar Rail finance director Ravi Shankar introduced al-Subaie. He highlighted that though Qatar Rail being the largest and most complex infrastructure programme happening in the world, is a unique project where delays are unheard of. Transparency is the hallmark of all operations of Qatar Rail. Other dignitaries who attended the function were Indian embassy first secretary Surinder Bhagat, Qatar Society of Engineers vice chairman Mohamed Abdulla al-Kuwari, Arab Engineers Association president Ahmad Jassim al-Jolo, Qatar Rail internal auditor Jayan Devassy, Institution of Engineers (India) chairman Abdul Sathar, PAN NIT general secretary Rajendra Panch Bhai and more than 200 engineers from Engineers Forum and Qatar Rail.
The second part of the event was a moderated group discussion on ‘Best Practices in Project Management’. Participants were: Dr IngMarkus Demmler, senior programme director, Qatar Rail; Samuel Adair Mcchesney, project director-Gold Line-Qatar Rail; and Engineers Forum members Lakshmy Suryan Kishore and Raffi Shafi.
The group discussion was moderated by Engineers Forum’s immediate past chairman E J John. An inter-active session followed. Engineers Forum general secretary Fahd Ahmed proposed a vote of thanks.
Engineers Forum is the largest association of Indian Engineers in Qatar. Started in 1990, by a small group of young and enterprising engineers from the southern Indian state of Kerala, it has grown into a large group of more than 2,000 engineers.
Award-winner Abdulla Abdulaziz al-Subaie and other Qatari engineers with Indian ambassador P Kumaran and Engineers Forum officials.
