DOHA: Lack of safety and security measures at some fuel stations in Doha and its suburbs poses a danger to customers as well as those working and living in the area, a local Arabic daily reported yesterday, quoting many citizens and motorists as saying.
They said that the fuel stations, especially the old ones, needed to be reorganised and monitored keeping in view the safety and security of workers and motorists.
“Due to the skewed geographical distribution of fuel stations, there is an acute shortage in some areas, which needs to be review by the authorities,” Khalid Al Noimi, a Qatari national, was quoted by Al Watan as saying.
Citing a personal experience, Al Noimi said: “Recently, on my way back to Doha from Dukhan, I forgot to refill the tank, and by the time I realised it I could not go back to Dukhan, as there was no provision for a U-turn on the road nearby. Finally, I got stuck mid-way and had to call somebody to bring fuel for my car.”
He noted that there was only one fuel station on the road from Doha to Al Khor after the University Petrol Station. There is need for many more fuel stations on both sides of the highway, which remains busy day and night, he said.
Another citizen, Ali Al Anzi, said that the distance between fuel stations on the road leading towards Saudi Arabia and the UAE was very great, and they also lack safety provisions and services for car maintenance, cafes and general stores.
“Workers at many fuel stations could be seen in normal uniforms instead of wearing dresses that are fire-proof,” added Al Anzi.
“Due to high demand and small capacity, these petrol stations often run out of stock of ‘Super Quality’ (also called Aadi) petrol, compelling customers to buy ‘Premium Quality’, which is relatively expensive and which many find unaffordable,” he said.
He also pointed out that since petrol stations ran out of stock very quickly, they frequently called refuelling tankers, which contributes to traffic jams at the petrol stations and on the roads.
The report highlighted that the distribution of petrol stations in Doha and its suburbs was skewed, and many areas were under-served, forcing people there to come to Doha for refuelling.
For example, the Corniche road has only one fuel station, which is very old and small. It is crowded at most times and many idle tankers can be spotted parked in the compound, occupying a significant portion of the space at the facility.
Mohammad Al Emadi, another Qatari, said: “Many petrol stations, especially the old ones, have faulty designs. They are located very close to main roads, leaving very limited space for movement of vehicles, and motorists can often be seen waiting in long queues, blocking traffic on the road.”
Some have suggested that fuel stations should not be surrounded by shops and restaurants, and these should be located at a safe distance to prevent accidents and casualties.
They also suggested that motorists should be asked to switch off the engines of their vehicles during refueling, and they should not be allowed to smoke, even inside their cars.
Moreover, these facilities should be closely monitored with CCTV cameras to ensure safety and security, they say.
THE PENINSULA
