Doha - CityCentre jam-mania

This is my first post on town planning issues -

Urban planners normally deals with urban planning needed for the people comfort and efficient life.. Thus it is a BIG objective.. normally UTOPIA.. and UNACHIEVABLE.. but who can achieve everything in this life..??

Back to the topic.. last night me and my husband "crawling" in the traffic jam, from our rented house which is less than 5 km from Doha (Qatar) City Centre to catch a show.. Quantum of Solace.. James Bond latest film..for 8.45 pm show..

I dont mind if it is working day, morning or evening rush because it is inevitable.. But at Friday night... with surprisingly not many cars..! We finally manage to get a parking spot outside the building... We were lucky.. because the traffic jam continue onto the parking level..

Everything Under Construction

WHAT A WORST TRAFFIC PLANNING it is!!! the road surrounding CityCentre Shopping Mall is always "close and open" everywhere and everytime at the wrong place.. last time it is finished, today it is being re-tar, re build etc..

Doha new town centre - ever expanding; notice the number of cranes!!

Almost 80-90% building are under construction

It is the facts that the Doha new town centre was under heavy construction, so many buildings..
who will occupy it in few years time? and for what business/purpose?.. maybe Dubai Model of development inspire the authority.. The economic theory of development, supply and demand seems not applicable in the middle east and it worsen by current economic crisis.

The traffic jam mean inefficient planning, higher car usage (no public transport around except a few taxis), failure to predict the growth of car, population and customer to this commercial centre - claimed as one of the biggest shopping mall in Qatar-Mid East.. The main reason is actually the lack of integration and inability to forecast the future construction works which will obstruct the traffic in short term and medium term..

Well for me and my husband - if not because of the show timing is suitable for us... after Isyak pray, after dinner and after grocery shopping at Carrefour.. In future, we will try to avoid this place.

A bad sign for another Dubai-to-be city..