Doha - The authorities in Qatar have invented a new smart way that helps users of transportation networks to plan their trips within Qatar easily and smoothly, and provides them with a package of services, as part of the country’s trend towards using modern technologies, and it was considered a world-leading experience.
The Qatari Ministry of Transportation has launched an application and a website that connects all means of public transport in the country within an integrated network, and includes a number of services and advantages that make movement within the country, which recently hosted the World Cup, more easy and comfortable.
One of the most prominent features of the service is that it contributes to drawing up a trip planner that helps users, step by step, to choose the best times, public transportation and routes that suit them to reach their destinations.
The application also includes information about the locations of public transport stations, routes and times, and includes a flight tracking feature to allow advance planning for arrival to and from the airport via public transport.
A special name “Sila” was chosen for the application, which expresses its services, and its aim is to connect all means of public transportation in the State of Qatar within an integrated network, which currently includes metro, buses, trams and taxis.
“Sila” provides users with the smartest transportation options through the trip planning service and provides easier, more convenient and sustainable ways to move around the country, in a way that supports the continuous development efforts in the State of Qatar .
Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalid Al Thani, Director of the Technical Affairs Department at the Ministry of Communications, revealed: “Sila aims to make movement throughout the country efficient and comfortable by integrating the various means of public transportation, to provide a connected and integrated transportation system for all segments of society.”
He added, "The application and the website are just the beginning of a bunch of projects, initiatives and services that the authorities will launch successively, and with the completion of launching all stages of Selah, the public transport network will become integrated and Selah will become the only official source for all information related to public transport in the State of Qatar."
It is noteworthy that the Ministry of Transportation launched “Sila” in cooperation with Qatar Railways Company (Rail), Transportation (Karwa), Qatar Foundation and Msheireb Real Estate Company. “Sila” currently includes metro, buses, trams, and taxis under its umbrella, and it will be fully launched in several stages, as it will provide its users with many advantages, including integrated payment systems that work without touch, in addition to providing new services and means of public transportation, and launching awareness and promotional campaigns. of the public transport network with the aim of reaching the largest possible number of the public in the State of Qatar.
Jassim bin Saif Al-Sulaiti, the Qatari Minister of Transportation, had previously inaugurated the “Sila” operations center, the brand that connects all public transportation in Qatar within an integrated network.
The new center, which will be located in Silah, will be responsible for developing plans and policies related to the integrated public transport system.
His duties will include managing the brand for Silah, defining its paths, and supervising technical and financial matters related to it.
The opening of the Silah Operations Center comes as a continuation of the efforts of the Ministry of Communications to improve the public transport network and raise its efficiency through a number of services, the latest of which was the launch of the Silah application and its website for trip planning.
A world leading transport system
Qatar had achieved success in organizing the best version of the World Cup in contemporary history, and free transportation for visitors to Qatar was a sign of the success of the organization.
The Doha Metro and the Lusail Tram Network transported a total number of nearly 20 million World Cup fans.
The Qatari authorities allocated more than 3,000 modern buses that transported an average of a quarter of a million fans per day.
Prior to the conclusion of the Qatar World Cup, the buses of the Mowasalat Company (Karwa) transported about 8 million passengers through its various services that it provided to the fans of the World Cup, with 10% of the buses of the Qatar World Cup 2022 being equipped with elevators and spaces designated to serve wheelchair users. These services were praised by everyone who visited Qatar in the recent period, with an emphasis on the modern transport network designed by the Gulf state with international standards that match the level of the finest networks in developed capitals.