Approximately 100,000 passengers are using buses for their daily travels these days. A view of the Central Bus Station. PICTURE: Jayan Orma
By Ramesh Mathew/Staff Reporter
About 160,000 bus passengers in the country use Mowsalat’s renewable Classic Smartcards, it is learnt.
The government transport firm’s officials at the Central Bus Station office said about 80-85% of the Smartcard holders are using them on a regular basis while others are either using it occasionally or not using them at all.
Mowasalat’s studies have found almost 90% of the bus passengers, especially those boarding the public transport vehicles on the weekends are using the cards while others are either occasional travellers or those using disposable cards of different denominations issued on board the buses.
Disposable cards are also available from the Karwa office at the main bus station.
While acknowledging that the demand for public transport buses has grown remarkably in the last few months, especially since the country witnessed the arrival of large groups of workers for various ongoing major construction projects, a Mowasalat official said on an average between 250-300 new cards are issued from the bus station every day, including on Fridays.
“Passengers are coming from across the country for buying cards which are also available at more than 60 outlets in Qatar,” he said while adding that those who do not have smartcards could buy disposable cards, with a validity of 24 hours, from the Karwa office at the Central Bus station.
In October last year, Mowasalat executive director Ahmed Busherbak al-Mansouri informed that compared to 2011, there was a 6% rise in the total number of bus passengers in Qatar.
Though no official figures were released in 2013, approximately 100,000 passengers are reportedly using buses daily for their travels, with the weekend figures at least 20-25% more than the week days.
The company, according to a statement issued on Wednesday, is operating buses on 41 routes in the weekends and 39 routes on other days.
The Mowasalat reportedly has more than 10,000 schedules per day.
From tomorrow onwards, there are slight changes in the routes of the inbound and outward buses running through the Msherieb area owing to the works to carried out on the Jaidah flyover.
Inquiries on this could be had on 44363804 (Central Bus Station, between 8am and 6pm). Information is also available on www.mowasalat.com, under the bus maps section.
Smartcard invalid if not used for 6 months
Mowasalat’s Classic Smartcards will become invalid if not used for a continuous period of six months, but they could be recharged either at the designated outlets or at the Karwa office at the Central Bus station.
Passengers can also travel using disposable cards issued on board the buses they board. Disposable cards are also issued from the Karwa office at the Central Bus station.
If a driver refuses to issue a disposable card of any denomination to a customer, the issue could be brought to attention of the Management’s Complaint office on 44588906/or Karwa Smartcard customer care 44366053.