Doha: Public Works Authority (ASHGHAL) will shortly sign a Memorandum of Understanding with its Singaporean counter part Land Transport Authority (LTA), targeting enhancement of its delivering capacity in the development and management of the state’s infrastructure. Ashghal and LTA have reached to this decision at the end of three-day expert delegation visit that was held at Ashghal head quarter during 3rd, 4th and 5th of the current month.
Earlier, Eng Nasser Ali Al Mawlawi, Acting General Manager of Public Works Authority "Ashghal," has rendered a warm welcome to the LTA experts delegation headed by Mr. Paul Fok, Group Director of Engineering at LTA Singapore on 3/11/2009. During the opening session, both sides reviewed a number of topics of common interest in cooperation between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Singapore, especially in the areas of infrastructure.
The visiting delegation also listened to a presentation on major road projects of Ashghal, presented by Eng Jamal Shareeda Al Kaabi, acting director of Design Managements (roads & drainages) at Ashghal. On the other hand, Mr Paul Fok, head of LTA delegation gave presentation on the major projects of LTA, giving a general view of the land transportation system in Singapore.
Apart form the General Manager of Ashghal, Eng Muhammad Ali Darwish, Senior Technical Advisor; Eng Saad Ahmed Al Misnad, Acting Director of Infrastructure Affairs; Eng Nasser Rashid Al Nuaimi, Projects Manager at Infrastructure Affairs; Eng Yousef Abdel-Rahman Al-Emadi, Acting Manager of Road Operation and Maintenance and Mr. Ahmed Rashid Sahoti, General Services Manager were among the senior officials who attended the delegation.
It is remarkable that as the responsible government agency to provide the best services in the development and management of infrastructure in the State of Qatar, Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has decided to cooperate with the Land Transport Authority, (LTA), a governmental body under the Ministry of Transport assigned with development and management of road transport in Singapore, which was founded in 1995 by merging four government bodies in the field of transport. The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding is expected in the immediate future.
The proposed MoU will assure provision of best technical and advisory services of LTA in four areas key areas of Infrastructure development and management, namely, design management, infrastructure management, assets management and traffic engineering. In addition, the MoU also includes provision of filed training opportunities for Ashghal staff in Singapore to raise the technical and practical knowledge of Ashghal staff to carry out the best options for the improvement of roads and drainage services in accordance with the local requirements and practices.
Ashghal has explored the LTA delegation expertise through giving opportunity to the delegation members for presentations, and four important presentations were presented by field experts. The first day of the session witnessed two important presentations and discussions. Mr Paul Fok made a presentation on Design Management Improvements while Mr Yap Cheng Chwee, Group Director of Road Projects gave a presentation on Construction Management Improvements. Whereas, on the second day of the delegation, Dr Chin Kian Keong, Group Director of Road Operations and Community participation, LTA made a presentation on Traffic Engineering Improvements and Dr. Chuai Chip Tiong, Deputy Director of ITS at LTA made presentation on Asset Management. Later, senior Ashghal officials and the Singapore delegation engaged in discussion focusing on strategies to improve the delivering capacity of Ashghal.
At the closing session of the delegation, Eng Nasser Ali Al Mawlawi, Acting General Manager of Ashghal stressed importance of cooperation and coordination between the Public Works Authority (works) and its counterpart the Singapore Land Transport Authority as both the organisations share many of the general objectives and can exchange best experiences in the field of infrastructure. The Acting GM also pointed out that Singapore being a small urban state could be a model for Ashghal in the development and management of infrastructure in the State of Qatar, especially in the field of design, operation and maintenance of roads and bridges.