Doha: Plans are underway to build an extensive metro rail network in Greater Doha. Tram lines are to be laid to complement the transport infrastructure.
The bus network in the city and its sprawling suburbs is also in for massive expansion. A metro light rail network will be developed in three stages and will cover 140km when completed.
Construction of Phase I covering 85km of the proposed rail network is slated to begin next year. The project is likely to be completed in 2015, Qatar said in its presentation for the 2016 Olympic bid made recently.
"All planned transport infrastructure will be developed regardless of the International Olympic Committee's choice of the Host City for the 2016 Olympics," it was noted in the presentation.
The rail network will link all major Olympic venues and villages, including the New Doha International Airport (NDIA), Doha Port and the hotel district.
Qatar has earmarked billions of dollars for a wide range of major transport infrastructure projects over the next 20 years.
To improve transport infrastructure, the Qatar Public Works Authority, popularly known as Ashghal, is undertaking 39 projects.
Road works include a number of multi-lane motorways and extensions to major road networks. These projects are scheduled to be completed in 2010. The country's Master Plan, to be carried out until 2025, envisions Qatar as an academic, sports and major tourist destination in the Middle East.
By late 2009, the first phase of the NDIA will be open at a cost of a staggering $9.5bn. It will be the most modern and innovative airport in the world and the largest in the Middle East.
There will be rail and motorway links to the city from the new airport, which will have a 50-million passenger-handling capacity. The first phase will have the capacity to handle 24 million passengers.
As for hotel accommodation, the presentation said Doha currently has 17,964 hotel rooms available, which are primarily in the four and five-star and deluxe categories. According to the Qatar Tourism Authority, a total of 22 new hotels with 4,854 rooms are slated to be ready by the middle of this year.
In addition, some 2,319 deluxe apartment-hotel rooms and 1,212 standard apartment-hotel rooms are expected to be ready for occupancy by the summer of this year. By 2016, Doha will boast more than 80,000 hotel rooms, the presentation said.
© The Peninsula 2008
