The Doha Municipality is working on a complete overhaul of the central market, but there is no plan to shift it out of Doha in the near future, a senior official of the Municipality has said. Responding to public complaints about the poor condition of the central market, Mohammed Al Sayed, Director of the Doha Municipality, told a local Arabic daily that a project is under way to upgrade the infrastructure and administrative structure of the market. He, however, ruled out the possibility of shifting the market from its current location in the near future. He said the proposed overhaul will cover all parts of the market “in a away that will require redistribution of the sections to make it a model market.” Quoting a senior Hassad Food official, a local daily reported recently that more central markets have been planned in different parts of the country and they would be ready in 28 months. The central market in Doha would be closed down once the new facilities are open, said the report. Al Sayed said there is a study on establishing a number of central markets outside Doha to reduce the pressure on the existing market, because it does not have the capacity to accommodate the increasing number of visitors. Many citizens, meanwhile, called for immediate steps to upgrade the market citing poor infrastructure, shortage of parking space and the foul smell originating from the fish and animal markets. “It is better to shift the market to the outskirts of Doha in a place that is not far from the city. If there is no plan to shift it, then the authorities should develop the market on a war footing,” said a citizen. The Peninsula

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