DOHA: A fully integrated Intelligent Transport System (ITS) will be in place in Qatar before the FIFA World Cup 2022 that will provide accurate and user friendly information about the traffic flow in every major roads and highways in the country, a regional transport conference was told here yesterday.
Football fans attending the FIFA World Cup 2022 will be able to access real time information about the traffic situation by just browsing an interactive map on the website of the Ministry of Interior or the organising committee.
The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) is in the final phase of preparing an ITS master plan, while smart transport solutions have already been integrated in the traffic system in the country, said Emad Nasaruddin, an expert from Ashghal, while addressing the first UITP MENA Public Transport and Large Events Summit which concluded at the Hilton Doha hotel yesterday.
“The most recent achievement was the establishment of the traffic lights control room at Ashghal, which is linked to 28 intersections across Doha. Another 15 intersections will be added to the system in the next three months,” said Nasaruddin, speaking at a session focusing on Qatar’s preparations for FIFA World Cup.
He later told The Peninsula that the control room had helped collect data about traffic accidents in a faster way and identify the reasons for traffic congestions on several roads connected to the intersections. “This had helped us suggest solutions to avoid future problems on such roads,” he said.
He said the ITS master plan will require regular updating to meet the changing trends in technology.
“The plan should be flexible considering the rapid changes taking place in the digital technology. The ITS strategy should provide informative, intelligent, reliable and integrated solutions,” he added.
Ashghal in collaboration with the Traffic Department will establish a dynamic travel information system and a national traffic management centre in the next phases of the ITS project.
The Ministry of Interior recently launched a pilot project to use smart solutions for monitoring vehicular traffic.
The pilot project will use Masarak, a suit of smart applications developed by the Qatar Mobile Innovations Center (QMIC) at the Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP).
Masarak provides real time information about traffic flow in different areas allowing the user to plan the trip accordingly and to monitor traffic.
At the session, the Traffic Department presented its vision and plans for ensuring smooth and safe traffic flow during the FIFA World Cup, which include special lanes for buses, more advanced surveillance cameras, a special radio station to raise traffic awareness and special operation rooms to deal with accidents and other emergency cases.
A special committee will be set up to monitor all the major highways and interior roads during the World Cup.
Wafa Al Yazidi, Director of Rehabilitation at the Weill Cornell Medical College Qatar made a passionate appeal to the authorities to provide transport solutions and services to people with disabilities, including sufficient car parking facilities, access to ATM machines and Braille-based solutions to the visually impaired.
Ousmane Thiam, UITP president moderated the session.
The Peninsula
