Doha: A modern network of roads that provides access to the eight different FIFA World Cup stadiums in Qatar is now 99 percent complete, an official from the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) said yesterday at the opening of the ‘Mega Projects Qatar Conference 2022’ held as part of the Project Qatar and Hospitality Qatar exhibitions.
Addressing the event, Ali Mohamad Darwish, Project Engineer and Head of the Doha Highways Section at Ashghal said the Public Works Authority is implementing a number of projects by creating a network of roads and building infrastructure using the latest technologies.
“When it comes to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, Ashgal is committed to deliver a good infrastructure and a good network of roads to facilitate access to all the stadia in the State of Qatar. For access to the eight different stadia of the World Cup, we can say that we have a very developed and modern network of roads. We have reached 99 percent of our works.
"Now, you can reach Al Rayyan Stadium through Al Majd highway or Al Thumama through the access of Al Ahmad. And this is another network that can lead to Stadium 974, and other networks lead to Al Bayt, and to Al Khor City,” said Darwish.
It may be noted that in 2010, after Qatar won the right to host the FIFA World Cup 2022, Ashghal has announced plans to invest $20bn in building and upgrading roads and drainage infrastructure as football fans from across the world visit the country for the world’s largest sporting event this year.
Moreover, market reports also expected Qatar to spend around $220bn to prepare and deliver the infrastructure required to host the World Cup as well as to support the huge influx of visitors who will be attending the games. The country is also expected to get a $20bn economic boost from hosting the global tournament.
“In collaboration with the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, we are now working on ‘hide and park’, which is an underground project for public transportation. In line and in compliance with the international environmental standards, we are linking all these paths, with all the fan zones and different stadia, and also with the accommodations where the spectators and the fans will be living during the World Cup. These will also be linked to the metro stations and bus stations, as well as other car parks. Ashghal will continue to deliver innovative projects developed for the well being of the citizens and residents of Qatar. And we will provide new efforts to deliver new projects with our new partners in the future,” Darwish added.
Also speaking during the event, Eng. Yousef Abdulrahman Al Emadi, Project Affairs Director at Ashghal reiterated the government’s vision to enhance its partnership with the private sector in implementing infrastructure projects in Qatar.
“Because we at Ashghal are keen to enhance cooperation with the private sector and increase its investments in the implementation of State projects. The project implementation system with the public-private partnership system paves the way for new ways to enhance cooperation between these two sectors and improve quality, thus achieving the directions of our wise government aimed at revitalising the private sector by supporting government projects to it and providing new horizons for it to develop.
“Note that this system will attract global foreign investments that allow the transfer of knowledge related to the management and implementation of such projects and provide long-term financing, construction, maintenance and operation before being re-delivered to government stakeholders,” Al Emadi said.