By Sidi Mohamed
The Peninsula
DOHA: As heavy traffic is expected across the city today, with opening of schools and offices after the Eid Al Adha holidays, the authorities have intensified patrolling in the traffic hotspots.
Schools are also gearing up for the rush, as nearly 300,000 students will resume classes today, after the long summer break, marking the beginning of the new academic year.
Major Jabor Mohammed Rashid Odaiba, Assistant Director, Media and Traffic Awareness Department at the General Directorate of Traffic said that patrolling teams will be deployed in all key areas, especially places that have seen road renovations recently.
“We are expecting more rush on the first day ( today), because many people are not familiar with the new intersections and diversions. Patrolling will focus on areas such as the newly opened Civil Defence intersection and Al Attiyah intersection, to prevent traffic congestion and accidents,” Odaiba told The Peninsula yesterday.
Some parents who may have shifted their children to new schools and those who have just come back from vacation might not be aware of the new changes in traffic.
He identified Abu Hamour, Al Rayyan, and Bani Hajir as some of the areas which could see heavy traffic and will get special attention by the patrolling team.
The General Directorate of Traffic will also conduct awareness programmes for drivers and supervisors of private school buses to ensure safety of children.
“ We will start the classes from tomorrow in their free hours in the morning. Experts will give guidelines to avoid any untoward incidents during pick-up and drop- out. There are some drivers who drop children away from their houses, forcing them to walk or cross the road. This will not be allowed,” said Odaiba.
Sources from some private schools located in Abu Hamour area said that they have also made preparations to meet the traffic rush. The area houses more than a dozen private and international schools.“ We had sent all our drivers to their respective routes to identify the possible traffic problems, like new diversions and road works so that they can avoid such spots as much as possible. We have already informed the parents of students using school buses about their pick-up time tomorrow to avoid any delays. The classes will start at 7am as usual,” A K Srivasthava, principlal of Birla Public School told this daily.
He said the school has received a circular from the Private Schools Office at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education with guidelines to ensure safety of children in school buses along with other general instructions.
Nargis Raza Ortho, principal of the Pakistan Education Center (PEC) said that the opening of some major roads in Abu Hamour after renovation is expected to ease the traffic in the area to a great extent.
“ We are trying our best from our side to ensure smooth flow of traffic in and around the campus, by deploying more security personnel and supervisors. The authorities are opening several new exit and entry points in the area and are creating more parking space to reduce traffic congestions,” said Raza.
She said the Private Schools Office had asked private schools to provide updated information about their students and teachers. The school currently has over 3,500 students on its rolls and has recruited new teachers for the new academic year.
