Qatar in recent years has transformed its public transport system, making it more integrated and sustainable. The efforts are still underway to fully covert public transport to eco-friendly mode to cut carbon emissions to address global challenge of climate change.
According to government plans, the public transport system of Qatar will be converted to fully electric. Even before the hosting of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 in November-December last year, Qatar had succeeded in achieving the target of converting 25 percent of its public transport fleet to eco-friendly mode. Public buses, government school buses and Doha Metro feeder buses will gradually shift to electric, thus hitting the roll-out percentage required to reduce harmful carbon emissions from buses by 2030.
“The mega sporting event has built a legacy for transportation system of Qatar,” said Khaled Hassan Kafud, Director of Public Relations and Communication Department at Mowasalat (Karwa). He said that now Qatar has an advanced sustainable transportation system with eco-friendly buses. “The public transportation system of Qatar will be switched to electric completely,” said Kafud.
He said that apart from the public transit buses, Mowasalat (Karwa) deployed about 2,500 eco-friendly buses for schools, ferrying over 60,000 students daily.
Lusail Bus Depot has set a Guinness World Record as the largest electric bus depot with a capacity of 478 buses. Lusail Bus Depot relies on solar energy for charging as it includes some 11,000 PV solar panels to generate 4 megawatts of power daily to feed its buildings.
Meanwhile the Public Bus Infrastructure Program of the Ministry of Transport (MoT) is moving towards achieving integration between public transit systems. The Program, which is being implemented with support of other state institutions, is also set to increase public transit ridership in the next few years.
Enhancing Qatar’s position as a leading country in using eco-friendly electric vehicles is also part of main objectives of the Public Bus Infrastructure Program. It will offer high-quality service and facilities with world’s best technologies and specifications that reflect Qatar’s advanced public transit sector. The Program consists of 8 bus stations (Al Sudan, Msheireb, Al Gharrafa, Lusail, Al Wakra, Education City, Industrial Area, and West Bay Central), and 4 bus depots in Lusail, the New Industrial Area, Al Wakra, and Al Rayyan.
The updated land transportation policies, set under Transportation Master Plan for Qatar 2050 (TMPQ), also encourage non-motorised transport, including walking, cycling and small-wheeled transport, in order to reduce congestion, pollution levels and promote physical activity.
