Published on : 19/08/2022 – 00:50Modified : 19/08/2022 – 00:48
Doha (AFP) – The organizers of the 2022 FIFA World Cup circulated 1,300 buses through the streets of Doha on Thursday to simulate life-size public transport through this small Gulf state, which is preparing for a logistical challenge, with suddenly more one million visitors.
“These are the most complex transport operations ever mounted for a major sporting event”, assures Ahmad al Obaidly, manager of Mowasalat, the operator of bus and taxi services in Qatar, the first country in the Middle East to host the World Cup, from November 21 to December 18.
The organizers thus simulated Thursday the conditions of transport between the eight stadiums planned for the competition during the busiest days of the World Cup, with up to 300,000 supporters in Doha at the same time.
In the sweltering heat, hundreds of air-conditioned, but nearly empty, buses traveled between stadiums, metro stations and scheduled pick-up points.
At Al Wakra metro station on the outskirts of Doha, more than 1,000 Mowasalat drivers played supporters going to Al Janoub stadium, five kilometers away.
Al Bayt Stadium, where the opening match will be played on November 20, does not have a metro station.
Hundreds of passengerless buses traveled the 25 kilometers to the nearest station in the new town of Lusail, as they will when taking foreign fans to their match.
The buses even made the return trip following midnight to simulate late-night Group B game conditions.
“We want to make sure our plans work,” said World Cup mobility manager Thani Al Zarraa.
Mr Obaidly said 3,000 buses had been purchased and there would be more than 4,000 in total on the streets for the World Cup.
The company also doubled its number of drivers, to 14,000 during the World Cup, mostly from Asia and Africa.
Each bus will have five CCTV cameras linked to a command center.
After the tournament, the buses will be donated to the public transport service of Qatar, which will find itself “one of the first countries in the world to have a fully electric public transport service”, assures Mr. Obaidly.
© 2022 AFP
