Ashghal and Qatar Mobility Innovations Centre (QMIC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for co-operation through “Wain” application, with the aim of guiding road users and providing updated information on new roads and traffic movement.

The MoU was signed at a conference by Ashghal president and senior engineer Saad bin Ahmed al-Muhannadi and Dr Adnan Abu Dayya, executive director of QMIC.

Qatar Cycling Federation president Mohamed Jaham al-Kuwari and founding member Jamal Rashed al-Khanji were also present.

The MoU is considered a strategic partnership between two national institutions that are committed to ensuring that road users can reach their destinations easily and quickly.

It also aims to achieve the Qatari government’s direction to encourage co-operation with Qatari producers and developers, and to make the most from all completed roads and infrastructure projects through introducing the new lanes formed by roads projects that are completed in order to enhance traffic flow and improve the lives of citizens and residents alike.

The application, which is fully developed and produced in the country, includes the latest dynamic maps of Qatar’s road networks, as well as cycle and pedestrian ways in addition to several other services provided by the application in Arabic and English.

Wain application, it was announced, offers many valuable features for road users in Qatar.

It provides the latest maps of road networks that help road users reach their destinations easily and quickly, in addition to providing a comprehensive view of traffic conditions and congestion areas according to information collected through a comprehensive multi-source data collection network.

In addition, the application provides navigation service using the digital addressing system “Enwani” as an additional option to reach the desired destinations as well as the feature of displaying the most important current and planned events, allowing users to easily discover events and navigate to their locations.

Wain application alerts drivers when they pass the legal speed limit near fixed-speed cameras, for their safety and the safety of other road users.

The application also sends notifications to users about the availability of car parking in many important locations.

Through the application, users can also share information via social networking platforms.

It’s worth mentioning that Qatar Mobility Innovations Centre (QMIC) is the first independent innovations center in the region that focuses on the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in developing smart mobility systems and services.

QMIC provides Internet of Things (IoT) platforms, solutions, and services in specialised domains including intelligent transport, logistics & telematics, road safety and environment.

Through its offices at the Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP), QMIC works in co-ordination with key national partners and decision makers to create an innovative environment that focuses particularly on the country's local market.

In the context of increasing the road users’ awareness of the new lanes formed by the recently opened projects and their most important features, which can also be identified through “Wain” application, the briefing also included a presentation about the progress of cycle paths and pedestrian paths’ network in the projects implemented by Ashghal within its Expressway and local roads’ programmes.

This comes as part of Ashghal’s plan to provide alternative transportation options inside and outside Doha in line with the country's general plan to promote the use of alternative means of transportation and to adopt an active lifestyle.

In some of these projects, separate cycle ways are provided, while other projects in internal and residential areas include shared cycle and pedestrian lanes.

Sidebar It is planned that 258km of cycle and pedestrian ways will be opened along highways and main roads by end of the year to reach 540km of cycle and pedestrian ways by 2022.

These lanes currently include over 100km on the eastern and western sides of Al Shamal road, 29km along Al Sheehaniya-Leatooriya-Lijmiliya Road, and around 18km of open cycle ways along Dukhan Highway connected to around 18km on the Celebration Street for a total of 36km.

This is in addition to long sections of Al Shamal Road that are provided with cycle ways.

The cycle ways are also provided on the sides of the G-Ring Road at a total of 42km and around 21km on the northern and southern sides of the road.

The cycle lanes on the northern side of the G-Ring Road are connected to the 13km cycle lanes in Ras Abu Abboud Road and Al Matar road, forming a connected lane with a length of around 34km.

Ashghal is also constructing cycle and pedestrian ways in local areas, not only along expressways, where it is planned that around 133km of shared cycle and pedestrian ways will be completed by the end of 2017, distributed in the areas of Bani Hajer, Slata, Al Sailiya, the West Bay, Al Khor, and around Qatar National Museum.

By the end of this year, around 10km of dedicated cycle ways will be completed, in North Al Wukair and West of Al Wakra.

These lanes are being constructed according to the highest specifications and safety standards.

A sufficient separation is provided between the cycle ways and the main roads, with several lanes surrounded by beautification and landscaping.

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