'Doha's a building site' - roadworks and traffic jams ahead of World Cup

Rainstorms are rare but paralysing in the Qatari capital, often causing flooding that leads to gridlock. With 1.2 million fans expected next year, such disruption is to be avoided at all costs. For taxi driver Mohamed, squeezing past construction sites in the downtown West Bay business district, the roadworks are a headache that he and his passengers could do without. "They weren't thinking 20 years ago when they did this (drainage system)," he said. "Customers don't like waiting."  

Cruising down the corniche, an arcing highway with West Bay views, is usually a Doha highlight but now, with excavations and gaggles of workmen, the city's main artery is strangled. Journey times have multiplied and in the evening rush-hour, cars sit in a giant traffic jam. Frustrations have bubbled over into rare criticism of officials on social media.

"Doha has become a building site, we're driving in the middle of roadworks. And this is going to go on right up to the World Cup" next November and December, said a young Qatari. Annual rainfall is only about 75 millimetres (three inches) in the city but scenes of flooding are not unknown, with cars semi-submerged, tunnels blocked and residents enjoying impromptu watersports. Many of Doha's roads were built without proper drainage so whenever it rained it flooded," said a source briefed on the construction efforts. "They are now rushing to install drainage, even on roads that were finished." 

World Cup chiefs have boasted that because of Qatar's compact size, the longest journey between any two of the eight tournament stadiums in and around Doha would be under 45 minutes. But gridlock would affect journey times, especially with the heavy influx of visitors -- some on hospitality packages that cost thousands of dollars for a single group game.

Qatar has earmarked 3.9 billion riyals in the 2021 budget for drainage and estuaries, compared to 3.2 billion riyals for highways. "Development of drainage stations, water treatment plants, pumping and rainwater drainage networks in several regions to prevent flooding due to rain" are a priority in 2021, the Public Budget Statement said. 

Qatar has spent billions of dollars on a new metro system that is used so far mainly by migrant workers from South Asia and the Philippines, with wealthier expatriates and Qataris sticking to large SUVs and luxury cars.

Ashghal, the body in charge of public works, gave assurances that the main routes will be ready to link "the eight stadiums with a rapid road network that avoids any traffic jams for their users". "These routes are also linked to metro and bus stations as well as commercial centres for World Cup fans," said Salem Al-Shawy, deputy director of roadworks at Ashghal. "We understand that drivers are suffering... but we want to make sure that this project will finish on time before the FIFA (World Cup)," he added.

In the meantime, Uber driver Mohammed, who comes from Bangladesh and has been living in Qatar for 15 years, is doing his best to keep his passengers happy. "Now, I warn them in advance and I ask them if they know a shortcut, to avoid any unhappiness," he said.