Motorists have lauded the initiative of Qatar Fuel (Woqod) to install longer hoses to its fuel dispensers at 19 petrol stations in the country.
Woqod CEO Ibrahim al-Kuwari, in a statement issued recently, said motorists could now get fuel on either side of Woqod’s petrol dispensing machines regardless of the location of the vehicle’s fuel tank.
Prior to the initiative, which was implemented last June 6, heavy buildup of vehicles inside Woqod service stations overflows towards adjacent roads causing traffic congestion along major thoroughfares.
Speaking to Gulf Times earlier, al-Kuwari explained that “queues along the right lane are longer and are often congested because the fuel tanks are located on the vehicles’ left side, leaving the opposite lane empty. But now longer hoses will speed up our services and will cut down on customers’ waiting time”.
John, a Doha resident, lamented that it usually took him 20 to 30 minutes to get his vehicle refuelled. But with the introduction of long hoses, he saw an improvement in the situation.
“Despite having around 10 to 15 cars in front of me, I was able to enter the petrol station’s premises in five minutes,” he said, narrating his experience at Woqod’s service station along Bin Derham a couple of days ago.
He added that a Woqod staff at Bin Derham would supervise the entry of vehicles and direct them to available petrol dispensing machines.
A quick check at the Bin Derham service station, one of Woqod’s largest fuel stations in the country, showed that the facility has four lanes, which, according to a staff, can fuel 16 vehicles at a time.
But motorists refuelling at Woqod’s Al Hilal station have yet to experience the benefits of extended petrol pump hoses.
Traffic buildup remains heavy along the Najma Street, especially during the afternoons, a staff at the Al Hilal station said, adding that a portion of the right side of the station, where Woqod’s “fuel farm” is located, was closed to traffic.
“But we have been told by management that most Woqod petrol stations, especially the newer ones, now have longer fuel pump hoses. We are still waiting for longer hoses to be installed in Al Hilal and areas like Musheireb and three other petrol stations in the Industrial Area,” he said.
The completion of the extension of service station hoses, according to al-Kuwari, forms part of Woqod’s objective “to cater the growing needs of the local market”. This year, Woqod opened three new petrol stations in various parts of the country, bringing the total number to 34.
In January, Woqod opened its 32nd service station in Sawda Natheel and the 33rd in Simaisma area.
In March, Woqod opened its Ain Sinan petrol station to cater to motorists in the northern parts of Qatar.