Doha: Minister of Transport HE Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti today inaugurated the Lusail Bus Depot, considered as the world’s largest electric bus depot with a capacity of 478 buses.
The Depot, which is part of MOT’s Public Bus Infrastructure Program, was inaugurated in an event organized at the site of the project, west of Lusail City.
Minister of Environment and Climate Change HE Sheikh Dr. Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed bin Ali Al Thani, President of the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) Dr. Eng. Saad bin Ahmad Al Muhannadi, and numerous senior officials representing Qatari transportation industry and the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, attended the event.
“Lusail Bus Depot, which is considered the world’s largest electric bus depot, is inaugurated in the context of Ministry’s effort of providing an integrated and sustainable public transit network that covers all areas of the country,” said Minister Al-Sulaiti.
This bus depot, he added, is the first in the Middle East relying on solar energy as it includes some 11,000 PV solar panels to generate 4 megawatts of power daily to feed its buildings, and this is in line with Qatar’s National Environment and Climate Change Strategy (QNE) goals, and helps achieve the leadership’s vision and QNV2030 goals.
He also said that the Depot has a special zone for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) e-buses, which is one of the newest mobility modes in Qatar that will contribute to supporting fan transportation during FIFA tournament from Lusail Stadium to Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor.
Today’s event, he noted, and the previous inaugurations within the Public Bus Infrastructure Program are particularly important as they coincide with the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and will contribute to supporting tournament’s mobility plans through providing multimodal, eco-friendly transportation modes that offer visitors and the public an exceptional experience.
The minister thanked all those in charge of developing the program, which backs the rollout of the strategy of transitioning to EVs that MOT developed in conjunction with the bodies concerned, aiming to position Qatar among top advanced countries in terms of public transit systems and environmentally conscious transportation services offered to citizens, residents, and visitors.
Source and image credit: The Peninsula.
