By Ramesh Mathew/Staff Reporter

The demand for better bus services is growing among workers living in places such as Umm Slal Mohamed and Khartiyat as the pace of large-scale construction works increases in areas lying to the north of Doha.
Some of the workers who spoke to Gulf Times said there is a major demand for direct and frequent bus services to Doha city, particularly on weekends, from both Umm Slal Mohamed and Khartiyat.
While there are services from Al Khor and Al Shamal, some of which are routed through Umm Slal municipal areas, the frequency of public buses through Khartiyat and Umm Slal Mohamed on weekends needs to be increased, the workers point out.
There has been a considerable growth in the number of “single” workers in these areas over the past couple of years. They live in the company-provided housing units that have come up in large numbers in these places. Though transportation facilities are available during working hours, their availability is less on weekends, it is understood.
Along with services to the city, workers have also requested for buses plying to places such as Asian Town in the Industrial Area, which houses cinemas, among other attractions.
Workers’ groups say services to the Industrial Area could also cover areas like the medical clinic for “bachelors” until adequate healthcare facilities are set up in Umm Slal town.
Meanwhile, some labour camp managers expect a further increase in workers’ accommodation units in the northern areas as works on major projects such as the Orbital Highway and Truck Route and one of the main water reservoir projects are currently under way in neighbouring places. These are in addition to several other civil infrastructure works currently taking place in and around Umm Slal.