Staff Reporter
 |
| The sprawling parking areas are generally deserted at Barwa Village. Many residents and businessmen say a more effective planning to regulate traffic in Doha with the introduction of measures like parking fee could attract more vehicles and travellers to the Village |
The company is aware of the growing travel requirements of the people, “but other agencies need to put in place effective systems to ensure that people would make use of the facilities provided by Mowasalat,” the official of the country’s sole government-run transport provider told Gulf Times.
The official also said agencies responsible for reducing traffic congestions should intervene to facilitate smooth traffic in Doha.
More than a thousand buses, mini-vans and pick-ups used for transporting mainly workers, take up large portions of Doha’s vacant lands for their parking even though more than 90% of the huge parking space at the sprawling Barwa Village is lying empty throughout the day, including during weekends.
Even without putting any restrictions on bachelors and workers coming to Doha, better and effective planning by the authorities could easily facilitate the movement of vehicles to a vast area like Barwa Village where they could park conveniently, the official said.
The provision of better onward transport facilities by Mowasalat for those going to the Village will reduce the traffic congestion in the city, residents and businessmen say. “This would also help in the growth of Barwa Village,” said a representative of the retailers who has his office in Doha.
Retailers also suggest expanding bus services to more areas in the weekends instead only to the Central Bus Station.
“If good transport facilities are available for those visiting the Village, the area would record remarkable growth. This could help Barwa Village attract more tenants,” said a businessman operating an electronic outlet on the Airport Road.
“A number of people in Doha will not mind travelling a little more if they are assured of parking spaces,” said the businessman “Barwa Village’s remarkably good parking facility is one of the main reasons for crowds frequenting some of the outlets there. Even though it is a little far for those in the northern and western areas of the city, many people go there because of large parking space,” said a senior official at a shipping company.
“To encourage people making use of parking facilities like the one at Barwa Village, Doha municipality and other agencies should explore the possibility of introducing parking fee for vehicles using open areas like the grounds near Central Bus Station, in Umm Ghuwalina opposite the building which earlier housed the Dasman Centre on the Airport Road, areas opposite Doha Petrol Station in Fariq Abdul Azeez, Museum road, Doha Stadium and near Al Safeer Centre on D-Ring Road. All these places are cornered by pick-ups and buses carrying workers in the weekends,” another businessman suggested.
However, to ensure the successful implementation of such plans, those parking vehicles at Barwa Village should be provided with basic requirements like cafeterias and restaurants, waiting terminals and facilities for their onward travel to other areas.