SANTHOSH CHANDRAN

DOHA MOWASALAT, the country’s lone public transport company, will launch a special bus service for low-income residents soon, said Mowasalat Chairman and Managing Director Jassim Saif al Sulaiti at a programme in Doha on Tuesday.

Sulaiti was speaking to the media on the occasion of celebrating their partnership with German-based gearboxes and components manufacture ZF Friedrichshafen AG, which runs the Karwa fleet. Head of the Bus Driveline Technology Business Unit of ZF Friedrichshafen Wolfgang Schilha also presented a memento to Sulaiti on the occasion.

At present, a total of 2,000 Mowasalat buses are being run through gearbox technology.

The components are manufactured by the ZF Friedrichshafen AG.

Speaking on the occasion, Schilha said the ZF Friedrichshafen AG was proud to have a partner like Mowasalat and was convinced that future cooperation will remain beneficial to both sides as well.

In his turn, Sulaiti said, “Mowasalat is keen to meet the country’s transportation requirements. Our mission to provide a quality transport service for all kinds of people will continue. Mowasalat’s plan to launch buses for low-income wage-earners is a move in this direction.” The new buses will have the capacity to carry 70 passengers. The speciallydesigned buses will provide all the necessary facilities for the passengers.

Mowasalat will provide these buses to private companies. These companies can also hire these buses, he said.

In regard to the expansion of Mowasalat’s transport network, Sulaiti said, “A large Mowasalat bus terminal will be opened at Al Wakra in the first half of 2014. Mowasalat will award contract for this construction to private firms at the end of this year. The terminal will be completed in 18 months.” The existing bus terminal at Al Ghanim in Doha will be shifted to a spacious location only after a final assessment of the Doha City projects, the Metro Rail and the new road networks.

Sulaiti said, “The Al Ghanim area given to Mowasalat by the government is nowadays used by people as a parking lot. Al Ghanim will look less-crowded if the private vehicles are removed from the complex by the Municipal Affairs Department.” Meanwhile, the first Karwa franchise, ‘Al Million’ is likely to begin its operation with a total fleet of 100 taxis on June 1
If they fail to meet the June 1 deadline, Mowasalat will invite the second franchise, ‘Petra Qatar’. “Mowasalat’s water taxi network project will be centred at Losail City. Work on it is also under progress,” he said.

The public transport company also plans to open a showroom for Karwa buses in Doha in the future.