Demand for public bus services has been growing with the arrival of more and more workers for new projects. A view of the crowded Doha Bus Station on weekends

By Ramesh Mathew/Staff Reporter

Daily travellers to Doha Industrial Area and others places on the route from B-Ring Road, Doha Jadeed, Mansoura, Najma and some localities within the sprawling Al Hilal Zone have sought the introduction of the Mowasalat public transport buses through these areas, at least in the mornings and late in the evenings.
They said it is high time public transport buses were operated between Doha Bus Station and Industrial Area through the above-mentioned areas on all days except Friday.
Some of the regular passengers pointed out that due to lack of services to Industrial Area through these areas they have to catch two buses. At first they need to travel from one of the above-mentioned areas to the Bus Station and then catch a bus to the Industrial Area, they said.
“Taking two buses in one direction is not only costly for poor passengers like us, it is time consuming as well,” said a Asian expatriate who regularly commutes by bus between Industrial Area and Najma.
Now that there is better connectivity to Industrial Area from Mall signal and its neighbouring areas with the opening of the F-Ring Road, the transport authorities should consider operating new bus services from the Doha Bus Station linking such localities as Najma,Gulf Cinema signal, Mall Roundabout, Najma Street, Al Thumama and Religious Complex area. Such services, passengers point out, could enter the Doha-Industrial Area road near the signal towards the Barwa City.
As of now most buses going towards the Industrial Area are operated through Msheireb, Jaidah signal, Ramada signal, Midmac intersection, Vegetable Market area and its neighbourhood. A few services are also operated through Muntaza signal, Hilal signal, Medical Commission, Abu Hamour and Doha-Industrial Area road.
Requests have also come from people travelling to the Religious Complexes area on the weekends. Some of them said the present route of the 12 X services from the Doha Bus Station to Barwa City is not only time consuming but is also very long. They suggest operating bus services through F-Ring Road on the weekends while travelling towards the Religious Complex from the Bus Station and return through the present route so that the services could be operated as circulars to suit the requirements of the travellers.