(MENAFN- The Peninsula) By Irfan Bukhari / The Peninsula
The Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal' and Qatar Mobility Innovations Center (QMIC) yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation through 'Wain, an application which offers numerous valuable features for road users in Qatar.
The mobile application 'Wain, in English 'Where, provides the latest maps of roads networks that help road users reach their destinations easily and quickly, in addition to providing a comprehensive view of traffic conditions and congestion areas. The application also covers cycle and pedestrian ways.
The MoU was signed during a press conference, held yesterday, by Dr. Eng. Saad bin Ahmad Al Muhannadi, President of the Public Works Authority, and Dr. Adnan Abu Dayya, Executive Director of 'QMIC in attendance of Dr. Mohammad Jaham Al Kuwari, President of the Qatar Cycling Federation, and Dr. Jamal Rashed Al Khanji, Founding Member of Qatar Cyclists Centre.
Addressing the press conference, Al Muhannadi told the media that 258km of cycle and pedestrian ways would be opened along highways and main roads by the end of this year, which would reach 540km of cycle and pedestrian ways by 2022.
Al Muhannadi said that the MoU on 'Wain was a strategic partnership between two national institutions. 'Since January, Ashghal has opened more than 180km of roads, 70km of bridges and 80km of tunnels, Al Muhannadi said, adding that all those large openings required upgraded information for road-users for their entrances and exits.
He added that the cooperation had come in response to numerous complaints from the public about the failure to update the maps showing the new modifications effected by Ashghal, especially since the updates made by the internationally known maps were implemented every four months.
Al Muhannadi said that the new application was exclusively for Qatar and was updated on a weekly basis and included pedestrian, bicycle and building lanes, and is connected to Ashghal's application on smart devices.
For his part, QMIC Executive Director Dr. Adnan Abu Dayya said that the cooperation with Ashghal aimed at localizing technology and expanding its use in Qatar. He said that the new application was available in both Arabic and English, and it was an easy way to find places and the shortest way to reach destinations with the location of surveillance cameras.
He added that the application, fully developed and produced in Qatar, included the latest dynamic maps of Qatar's roads networks, as well as cycle and pedestrian ways. 'It provides the latest maps of roads networks that help road users reach their destinations easily and quickly, in addition to providing a comprehensive view of traffic conditions and congestion areas according to information collected through a comprehensive, multi-source data collection network, Abu Dayya added.
Among other features, the application provides navigation service using the digital addressing system 'Enwani as an additional option to reach the desired destinations, as well as the feature of displaying the most important current and planned events, allowing users to easily discover events and navigate to their locations.
'Wain application alerts drivers when they pass the legal speed limit near fixed-speed cameras, for their safety and the safety of other road users. The application also sends notifications to users about the availability of car parking in many important locations. Through the application, users can also share information via social networking platforms.
The press conference also included a presentation about the progress of cycle ways and pedestrian paths' network in the projects implemented by Ashghal within its expressway and local roads' programmes.
Media persons were informed that that according to plan, 258 km of cycle and pedestrian ways will be opened along highways and main roads by the end of 2017, to reach 540 km of cycle and pedestrian ways by 2022. These lanes currently include over 100km on the Eastern and Western sides of Al Shamal road, 29km along Al Sheehaniya Leatooriya Lijmiliya Road, and around 18km of open cycle ways along Dukhan Highway connected to around 18km on the Celebration Street for a total of 36km.
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