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Santhosh Chandran
Doha
Qatar Pedestrian Crossings Master Plan (QPCMP), an ambitious initiative aimed at enhancing the safety and security of pedestrians, was launched by Prime Minister and Minister of Interior HE Sheikh Abdulla bin Nasser bin Khalifa al Thani at a ceremony in Doha on Tuesday.
The PM then toured the exhibition accompanying the ceremony and was briefed on the proposed pedestrian crossings.
The QPCMP has concept designs for 50 crosswalk locations selected on the basis of preferences of the public. It includes 26 pedestrian overpasses and underpasses and 24 crosswalks on roads. The QPCMP would contribute to safer pedestrian mobility and help provide an enabling environment to encourage people to walk.
QPCMP is an integrated and comprehensive plan that takes into consideration the rights of all users of the road including of motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists and people with disabilities.
The master plan has three main pedestrian crossing themes ” standard, conventional and modern. It has also unique themes and unique locations such as Doha Grand Park and Aspire Zone where uniquely-designed pedestrian bridges will be constructed to become landmarks for the capital city of Doha.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister of Transport and Communications HE Jassim bin Saif al Sulaiti said,"An integrated and efficient transportation system is must for a robust and sustainable development of the country. QPCMP is one of the key plans for implementing the system and components of land transport in Qatar. It is also an important part of the Qatar National Traffic Safety Strategy action plan."
"Qatar has been witnessing an unprecedented economic growth and significant progress in all fields along the lines of the wise vision of the Emir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani," Sulaiti added.
He said economic growth cannot be achieved without an integrated, efficient transportation system.
Sulaiti said the launch of QPCMP is in line with the ministry's keenness to build a road network that complies with the urban development and economic leap seen by the state and is in accordance with the latest global design, safety and environmental standards to form a legacy for the people and the country.
The minister explained that road networks are directly linked to urban expansion and development.
"This encouraged the ministry to update its QPCMP with an aim to enhance safety for pedestrians, with world-class, safe pedestrian environment, which maintains the safety of their lives and property and reduces accidents," he said.
In addition, the plan aims to provide pedestrian corridors for people with special needs and the elderly.
The master plan was finalised after a detailed survey, he said.
A Pedestrian Crossings Manual was developed covering all types of crossings to ensure their compatibility with Qatar's endorsed standards and guidelines, and a Pedestrian Environment Review System (PERS), which will provide a systematic process, was designed to assess crosswalks, thus saving lives and properties.
Rashid Taleb al Nabet, the ministry's assistant undersecretary of land transport affairs, said QPCMP is a key component of Qatar's integrated transportation system and great progress has been made in this regard along the lines of the Qatar National Vision 2030.
He said the most important outputs of the plan are the Qatar guide for pedestrian crossings and the pedestrian facilities assessment guide.
The Qatar guide for pedestrian crossings ensures the approval of the crossing designs by providing the guidelines and standards adopted in Qatar. It seeks to achieve symmetry in the designs of pedestrian crossings in the state by standardising the specifications, including the safety standards.
He explained that the pedestrian facilities assessment guide will provide a systematic process, tailored to Qatar's needs, and aimed at evaluating pedestrian facilities and crossings in an objective framework that promotes the safety of life and property.
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21/02/2018
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