As part of efforts to develop a modern transportation sector and encourage private-sector contribution to mobility projects, Qatar has signed four new deals.
The Ministry of Transport and Communications signed MoUs with Smart Transport, Union Global Projects, Mawaqif Zakia and Qatar Mobility Innovations Centre (QMIC).
The move is also aimed to encourage interest in establishing transport-related manufacturing in the country and a strategic development to take the connected and automated vehicles (CAV) program in Qatar to the next level.
Under the terms of the agreements, the Ministry will explore potential ventures with the other parties, as they move ahead with the goal of providing a multi-modal transport system that is integrated, accessible and inclusive for residents.
Meanwhile, the State’s Public Works Authority, Ashghal, is set to start construction work on a 2.2km underpass that will span the northern and southern areas of Al Gharrafa.
The new layout will enable Ashghal to accelerate construction of the proposed Tilted Interchange, a two-level interchange that will facilitate free-flowing movement at the intersection of Al Luqta Street and Al Gharrafa Road.
Qatar's construction industry registered notable growth from 2012 to 2016, mainly driven by public sector investments in construction projects. These investments were part of the National Development Strategy 2011–2016, under which the Government invested more than $125 billion in various large scale construction projects.
Under Qatar National Vision (QNV) 2030, the Government is developing a new city, which will have the capacity to accommodate a population of 450,000. The city is being constructed on an area of 38 sq km, 22km to the north of Doha, according to an industry report by Timetric – 'Construction in Qatar, Key Trends and Opportunities to 2021.'
The project comprises 19 mixed-use residential, commercial and entertainment districts, including 25,000 residential buildings, 22 hotels, a 20-storey building called Business Square, hospitals, schools, ports, stadiums, shopping malls, a blue lagoon with two marinas, four islands, several low- and high-rise buildings and parking facilities. The project is scheduled to be completed by 2020.
Driven by the FIFA World Cup in 2022, Qatar is making huge investments to develop various projects. According to Government estimates, it will require the construction of 12 new stadiums and 90,000 hotel rooms in order to accommodate an estimated 400,000 visitors attending to witness the tournament. Accordingly, the government announced plans to invest over $200 billion until 2022 to develop related infrastructure, including rail and road projects, hotels and stadiums.
Newspapers
10 April
