The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) is set to provide a major facelift to Qatar’s public transport sector with its Buildings Projects Department working to set up bus depots and stops in various areas.
In co-ordination with the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC), the department is working on eight main bus stations in West Bay, Msheireb, Industrial Area, Al Soudan, Al Gharafa, Education City, Al Wakra and Lusail while four major bus depots are in the making at Lusail, Al Rayyan, Industrial Area and Al Wakra.
Ashghal has informed that works are under way at these places where the said facilities are being designed in accordance with the highest global safety and environment standards, GSAS. The bus depots and stations have important design and operational considerations with three-star environmental quality for energy saving and environmental conservation.
The bus depots at Lusail, Al Rayyan, Industrial Area and Al Wakra extend from 129,000sq m to 190,000sq m in size, while the bus stations have an average capacity of accommodating 25 vehicles.
According to the information received from Ashghal, the Al Rayyan bus depot will provide a berth for about 380 buses and completed by the beginning of 2022. The depot here also includes a maintenance workshop and cleaning facility. Also, work at the Education City bus station will be completed by the third quarter of 2021.
The depot and station will serve Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium.
Also, Ashghal is working on 2,700 bus stops on all major roads to serve thousands of passengers in many areas to use public buses. These bus stops, with air-conditioned cabins, will allow passengers to wait inside in comfort and protect them from direct exposure to sunlight and humidity.
Last year, Ashghal signed 11 new contracts worth QR2bn with different Qatari companies for building bus stations and bus depots, as part of the public bus infrastructure programme.
