DOHA: The Ministry of Interior has intensified patrolling on the streets, especially in residential areas, to avoid any untoward incidents during Eid holidays.
The Traffic Department said yesterday that it will deploy more patrols around Eid prayer grounds to handle the rush during the special morning prayers.
Patrolling has been intensified on the streets leading to commercial complexes and public parks. Police will be present on all streets and intersections, especially where there are no traffic lights, said Brigadier Mohamed Saad Al Kharji, Director of the Traffic Department.
He said special precautions have been taken to prevent accidents, especially run-over incidents involving children “as there will be unusual presence of young children at residential neighbourhoods” moving from one house to another to share the joy of Eid with friends and relatives.
More patrols have been deployed on the roads leading to the Doha International Airport to meet the Eid rush.
The Central Operations Department at the ministry will function round the clock during the Eid holiday and the Civil Defence centres will be on standby to deal with any emergency, the ministry said in a statement yesterday.
The emergency operating room will work in four shifts as on regular days to receive calls from the public and is manned with staff speaking Arabic, English, Hindi/Urdu, Filipino, Persian, French and Chinese. The average time taken to answer calls is up to 10 seconds, said the Department director.
The General Directorate of Civil Defence has urged the public not to cause overloading of electricity and follow required safety procedures.
The department has taken special precautions in the Sealine area that would witness the influx of large numbers of people during the holiday.
Al Fazaa will provide its security services round the clock during the holiday. It has deployed more patrols on the streets and in the souqs and residential areas.
Patrols on foot will be present in City Centre, Villaggio, Hyatt Plaza and Landmark. They will be available inside the shopping centres to prevent any unpleasant incidents.
The Abu Samra Border Post is now equipped with all facilities and services. There are 13 counters for transit of vehicle, five for customs and nine for passports, five of which are for families.
The department has urged travellers to ensure that their passports, visas and residence permits are valid, avoid overloading of vehicles, and make sure international customs transit book Triptek is available and there is a fire extinguisher in the vehicle. Those wishing to travel to other GCC countries by the Civil ID must carry the smart card and while exiting GCC countries, they must produce the same document they used for entering into that country whether it is ID card or passport.
Maritime patrol of the Coasts and Borders Security Department has taken precautionary measures to ensure maritime safety as there will be an increase in the number of tourists. The department will increase its patrols close to the beaches to provide assistance to those in need and to prevent accidents.
Water scooter riders are advised to stay away from swimming zone and not to cause any harm to swimmers whether it is on the open beaches or hotel beaches and to wear a life jacket.
Families escorting children to beaches have been advised not to let the kids go to the pool alone. They should call (999) for emergency services if needed. The Capital Security Department will receive the public round the clock at its four sections: Capital Police Section, South Madina Khalifa Police Section, Al Sadd Police Section and Misaimeer Police Section.
The Peninsula
