As the New Year gets underway, Qatar Rail has outlined its ambitious goals for the Doha Metro project.
Qatar Rail has stated that by 2018, the ambitious Doha Metro project will achieve 70% “project progress rate”.
Presently, there are as many as 37 stations of the Doha Metro project under construction with a workforce of more than 41,000 workers on site.
This information was revealed during Qatar Rail’s recent third all-staff town hall meeting, attended by management and employees, Gulf Times reported.
Among its accomplishments, the project can claim that it has worked a total of 202 million man hours and achieved one of the lowest accident frequency rates (AFR) in construction in the world.
A number of significant milestones were achieved in 2016, including the recent completion of viaducts on the Doha Metro project while a few months earlier, the company celebrated the completion of all tunneling works on the project.
The Doha Metro project also awarded all MEP subcontracts, with overall station completion progress reaching 46%.
Furthermore, foundations and base slabs work for all the 37 stations were completed, along with platform deck slabs on five elevated stations.
In 2018, the arrival of the first four trains in Doha is expected, as well as the dynamic testing of the first train in Japan alongside the awarding of the rail and ‘FM operator’ contracts.
Another milestone will be the advancement of operational readiness preparations and the development of revenue generating capabilities, the company outlined.
At the town hall meeting the Business Transformation Programme was launched and Abdulla Abdulaziz al-Subaie, Qatar Rail managing director and chairman of the executive committee said: “We are about to embark on the most critical phase of the Rail Development Programme; we will be soon transitioning from a rail developer to a rail operator.
“We have launched a Business Transformation Programme that rests on four pillars- delivery of the program on time, budget and quality, financial and operational sustainability, organizational efficiency and building Qatari capabilities.”
He pointed out that The Business Transformation Programme aligns with the vision of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, for Qatar’s second National Development Strategy 2017-2022, which stressed the timely completion of all infrastructure projects in the country.
He added that alongside these goals were the striving “for greater efficacy in government spending, diversifying the economy and ensuring sustainable development and national human capability building”.
Al- Subaie outlined the detailed objectives of the Business Transformation Programme, the implementation strategy and the numerous initiatives and intended delivery timelines crucial to achieve this transformation.
Centre to this is Qatar Rail making progress toward the completion of the Doha Metro, the Lusail Light Rail (LRT) and the Long Distance Rail projects.
Dependent on this progress is the Doha Metro works advancing as scheduled for a first-phase operational launch by 2020 involving three lines – Red, Green and Gold.
Qatar Rail chief executive officer, Dr Saad al-Muhannadi, extolled the company’s on-site accomplishments drawing attention to how the company is advancing at a rapid pace, while steadily adapting and assigning “its talents, resources and partnerships within the timeline and budget provisions to achieve progress across all its landmark projects”.
He added: “It was an occasion of great pride for Qatar Rail to have HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani visit Al Qassar Station project site where he viewed a mock-up of the station located on the Red Line of Doha Metro.”
The 2016 milestones are fundamental to achieving the ambitious goals for 2017 that will focus on its constant, timely and cost-effective project completion with the focus now on the more complex phase of installing tracks and the railway control systems, as well as the installation of mechanical and electrical plant and equipment, and implementing architectural fit-outs.
It is anticipated that the track installation works will be completed by end-2017.
Qatar Rail’s top priorities include a long-term business development strategy that comprises property development and retail and advertising to attain operational and financial sustainability.
Also in progress is collaboration with the Ministry of Transport and Communications on the execution of transport demand management procedures to assist in the integration of the various public transport systems and the safe and efficient interchange with other travel methods.
The company emphasized the successes achieved over the past 12 months and said that it looked forward to the milestones expected next year.
Gulf Times
4 January
