By Ramesh Mathew/Staff Reporter
With new workers’ housing units coming up at different places outside Doha, the need to improve public transport services in such areas has increased, it is found.
The demand for such services increases during the weekend, when large groups of workers look to spend some leisure time in different parts of Doha.
Owing to factors such as the “inadequate availability” of plots for workers’ housing projects in the city and increasing costs, many construction companies are shifting their workers’ camps to areas outside the capital city or setting up accommodation units in distant locations, where a number of new projects are currently under way.
Many new road and infrastructure projects are also being undertaken in such places, especially in the northern and western areas, such as Shahaniya and its suburbs. The movement of workers to the interior areas has increased considerably in view of high-profile projects such as the Orbital Highway, which is expected to help ease the traffic situation with the opening of the road to Mesaieed and Ras Laffan.
While many workers start venturing out on Thursday afternoons, the transportation options are limited for them as Mowasalat bus services are generally found inadequate given the high demand in most places housing large groups of labourers.
As new entertainment venues, including cinemas, come up in places like Asian Town on the outskirts of the Industrial Area, scores of workers visit the area on weekends. However, getting there - particularly from newly-emerging areas lying outside Doha - is difficult, expensive and time-consuming, it is learnt.
Workers living in such areas have requested the authorities concerned to launch frequent and convenient bus routes to places like Asian Town, with a special focus on weekend services.
Interestingly, the demand for greater public transport in some areas comes at a time when many commuters feel that certain bus services are not getting adequate passengers due to “improper route planning” and other factors. They cite the 301-304 circular services as examples of such routes. Huge buses plying on city roads with a handful of passengers is a common sight. Some of them fail to attract any passenger at all.
Commuters point out the routes taken by these and some other services are not the most viable ones and better planning is required. Wondering why such services are run, a Sri Lankan expatriate said he lost a lot of time when he travelled by one of these buses recently.
A view of the Doha Bus Station. PICTURE: Jayan Orma
