Mowasalat launches 150 school buses with more safety features

DOHA: Mowasalat yesterday expanded its bus fleet with the launch of 150 school buses sporting fresh look and enhanced safety features.
The beige coloured buses are a significant addition to the Karwa fleet servicing schools under the Ministry of Education and Higher Education this academic year.
“The new buses meet international standards and embrace safety standards and latest technology. They will have 4,000 trips a day and transport an average 56,000 schoolchildren,” said Khalid Nasser Al Hail, Managing Director, Mowasalat.
Al Hail said Mowasalat had signed an agreement 10 years ago with the ministry to transport schoolchildren, with a focus on safety and comfort.
The ministry has been keen to ensure safety and security in student transport. Recently, it issued a circular to all Independent schools and KGs, urging students and staff to adhere to safety and security guidance when using private vehicles and school buses. The new Karwa school buses further supports the ministry’s efforts to promote security and safety in student transport.
Al Hilal said Mowasalat is operating a fleet of 2,300 school buses, including spare ones. The new school buses come with 26, 35, and 40 seats. Fifteen are equipped for special needs.
Mowasalat has expertise in recruiting right drivers, train them in our Karwa Driving School, give them exposure to school transportation safety awareness programmes and workshops held by competent authorities in Qatar, he said.
The They have enhanced safety features, including seatbelts, emergency exits, first aid kits and reverse cameras and sensors. The buses are marked with stickers for motorists to identify them as school buses and exercise extra caution while driving by them. They are also equipped with stop signs that alert other vehicles when dropping off students. Other features that enhance safety and security include ignition switch that does not operate when the engine compartment door is open.

There are also warning lamps to indicate doors are open, automatic fire extinguisher system in the engine compartment and advanced mechanical monitoring system.  For students’ comfort, the buses are fitted with proper-sized seats, high-quality ACs, LCD’s for educational material display and water dispenser.
Minister of Transport and Communications H E Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti and Minister of Education and Higher Education H E Dr. Mohammed bin Abdul Wahed Al Hammadi were present during the launch.
“We thank the Ministry of Education and Higher Education for continued support and confidence in us in delivering our services and catering to a very vital sector of school transportation,” said Nasser bin Mohammed Al Malki, Chairman, Mowasalat.
He said the company’s objective which is “to provide safe transportation be it for public or schoolchildren to support the objectives of our principal Ministry of Transport and Communication and Ministry of Education and Higher Education.
“Mowasalat develops and grows steadily to be the first choice provider of innovative transport solutions and services by applying highest safety and security standards and best practices of transportation to inspire a legacy in the region and ensure reliable and accessible services are provided by us to promote a culture of mass transportation to be the first choice provider of transport solutions,” he added.