Doha, October 30 (QNA) - The organizers of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 announced that the Doha Corniche area, and several surrounding roads, will be designated for pedestrians from Tuesday, Nov. 1 until Dec. 19, 2022, in preparation for hosting a variety of recreational activities for the fans of the World Cup, which runs from Nov. 20 to Dec 18, 2022.
This step is part of the plans to host the tournament and manage and organize transportation during the upcoming event, to ensure a smooth experience for fans from all over the world, to attend the World Cup, which is being held for the first time in the Arab world.
In a statement on Sunday, the World Cup organizers confirmed that the public will be able to reach downtown Doha using public transportation, including the Doha Metro and buses. Sites have also been designated for drop-off and pick-up taxi passengers, smart application cars, and parking spaces for people with disabilities.
There are also four parking spaces designated for people with disabilities in the downtown area of Doha, within the parking lots of Hotel Park, Qatar Post, parking number (5) in Al Bidda Park, and Doha Port. The following parking areas will be used for the championship operations, as these parking spaces will not be available to the public from Nov. 1 until Dec. 19, are Souq Waqif West and North, Al Shouyoukh Mosque, and Al Bidda (5) (via Al Rayyan Street), Al Bidda (4 and 5) (via the Corniche Street), and Al Bidda (1 and 2) (via Istiklal Street).
Additionally, many on-street parking bays in West Bay, Al Bidda, and inner A-Ring Road areas will be suspended. Drivers are encouraged to only park in designated areas to avoid fines, which will be given to any cars parked illegally, or blocking footpaths and bus stops.
The statement added that car drivers can use the following (park and move) facilities: Qatar University Metro Station on the Red Line, which has free parking for 6,000 cars, as well as for vehicles coming from the Katara Cultural Village car park. The guests of the Ned Hotel can use Al Messila Station on the Green Line, which includes parking Free parking for 5,000 cars. Also, Banana Island guests and Marine vessel owners can use Umm Ghuwailina Station on the Red Line, which has free parking for 3,000 cars. Jelaiah Car Park will be used for the shuttle bus.
The statement explained that from Nov. 14 to Dec. 18, a bus will run every 15 minutes from 9 am to 5 pm, and there will be a bus every 7.5 minutes, from 5 pm to 3 am.
A drop-off/pick-up area for private cars is provided at the Imam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab Mosque (across Al Istiqlal Street). From here, it is a 15-minute walk to the FIFA Fan Festival or a 20-minute walk to the Corniche.
For the safety of passengers and other road users, drop-off /pick-up on roads around the FIFA Fan Festival is not permitted, and fines will be issued to offending drivers.
Regarding transportation by metro, the statement stressed that the public can reach downtown Doha through the following metro stations located in the Corniche area, which is the DECC station on the Red Line, where it is possible to reach West Bay hotels, Corniche Activation North Zone, Hayya & Ticketing centers, Shopping malls, West Bay Bus Hub (Stadium Express). West Bay Station, on the Red Line, from which one can access the FIFA Fan Festival and the Corniche Activation North Zone. The Corniche Station (exit only) is on the Red Line, from which one can reach the FIFA Fan Festival and Corniche Activation Central Zone.
The fourth metro station is Al Bidda station on the Red and Green lines, for which one can reach FIFA Fan Festival, Corniche Activation Central Zone, and Al Bidda Park.
Msheireb station on the Red, Green, and Gold lines, for which one can reach Corniche Activation Central Zone and Msheireb Centre. Souq Waqif station on the Gold Line, for which one can reach Corniche Activation South Zone, Museum of Islamic Art, Souq Waqif shops and restaurants, Souq Waqif Bus Hub North (Stadium Express), Souq Waqif Bus Hub South, and (cruise ship hotels & Doha International Airport).
The Doha Metro will operate for longer periods during the period from November 11 to December 20, to facilitate the movement of fans during the World Cup. Hayya Cardholders can use the metro for free, from Saturday to Thursday from 6 am to 3 am, and on Fridays from 9 am until 3 am.
The areas designated for the pick-up and drop-off of taxi and Smart Car Application passengers are located in central locations including Ashghal Tower, Qatar Sports Club (for the FIFA Fan Festival), Al Bidda Metro Station, Souq Waqif, and the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) Park. Smart Car Applications of Karwa, Karwa - Fox, Uber, and Careem will operate on these sites.
The free shuttle bus service dedicated to transporting the tournament fans will operate from November 1, until December 18.
The Corniche Shuttle (C806) will operate during peak time every (7.5 minutes) from 5 pm to 3 am, and every (15 minutes) outside peak time from 9 am to 5 pm.
B Ring Shuttle (C804) every (7.5 minutes) during peak time from 5 pm until 3 am, and every (15 minutes) outside peak time from 9 am until 5 pm.
C Ring Shuttle (C805) every (7.5 minutes) during peak time from 5 pm until 3 am, and every 15 minutes outside peak time from 9 am to 5 pm.
Cruise Ship Hotels buses (No. A821) during peak time every (7.5 minutes) from 8 am to 11 am and from 4 pm to 7 pm and from 10 pm to 3 am, and every 15 minutes outside peak time from 11 am to 4 pm and from 7 pm to 10 pm until the next morning from 3 am to 8 am.
Vehicles with public and private (black) transport plates will be prohibited from driving in the Central Doha area, from 12 noon to 2 am from November 1 to December 19.
The statement added that bus services from Hamad International Airport and the Umm Ghuwailina area will be available to transport visitors to Souq Waqif North stops, and from there to Banana Island Station.
The use of motorcycles, bicycles, and scooters will be banned in the Corniche area, pedestrian areas, and public parks from November 1 to December 19.
Parking will also not be available at Souq Waqif, Al Shuyukh Mosque, and Al Bidda (via Al Rayyan Street) and Al Bidda (via Al Istiqlal street) and (Qatar Post) from November 1 until December 19. (QNA)