Minister of Transport Launches Qatar's 2050 Transportation Master Plan

Minister of Transport HE Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti launched the Transportation Master Plan for Qatar 2050 on Sunday under the patronage of Prime Minister and Minister of Interior HE Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani (TMPQ).

HE Minister of the Environment and Climate Change HE Minister of the Environment and Climate Change HE Minister of the Sheikh Dr. Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed bin Ali Al-Thani, President of the Planning and Statistics Authority Dr. Saleh bin Mohammad Al Nabit, President of the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) Dr. Saad bin Ahmad Al Muhannadi, and CEO of Qatari Diar Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah were among those who attended the event, along with a slew of senior officials and leaders from the public and private sectors.

The plan lays out a strategy for investing in land transportation infrastructure, as well as the frameworks and future directions for developing transportation networks across the country to ensure that they are integrated with land uses, urban development, population growth, and future transportation demand.

HE Minister Al Sulaiti stated that sustainability is the cornerstone of this Plan, citing the major effect it has on economic and environmental advancement by striking a balance between the demands of economic growth and environmental protection, as well as contributing to climate change reduction by implementing long-term initiatives that support the transition to sustainable transportation.

He went on to say that the Plan also aids in the financial sustainability of the land transportation sector by implementing transportation demand management policies and public-private partnerships for investing in and contributing to the construction and operation of the country's transportation systems.

According to him, the Plan will generate considerable economic returns due to increased revenues and the benefits of lower vehicle running costs, reduced trip time, and reduced carbon emissions and traffic accidents.

HE Following that, Minister Al Sulaiti and other senior officials viewed the accompanying exhibition and were briefed on the Plan's components and programs.

Eng. Hamad Essa Abdulla, Acting Assistant Undersecretary, Ministry of Transport, Land Transport Affairs, said that implementing the Master Plan will support Qatar's ranking as one of the world's most sustainable countries for deploying innovative, sustainable transit solutions that support all aspects of development and will improve the quality of life for citizens and everyone living in Qatar while maintaining the country's national identity.

According to him, the Plan includes an integrated set of initiatives and projects that will benefit all users of land transportation systems and networks through 2050, including expressways, public transportation, pedestrians, bicycles, land transportation demand management, and other transit technologies.

This will integrate these features, increase their interconnectivity, prevent accidents, ease traffic, and save the environment, resulting in a true legacy for future generations, he explained.

Constructing over 60 national land transportation policies for Qatar that will help support the ongoing development of transportation services is one of the Plan's key components and deliverables, as is putting forward 286 schemes and projects through 2050, including developing road networks and public transportation, transportation services management, laws and governance, and transportation.