Mowasalat has launched the second phase of its Karwa City project, being set up in the Industrial Area. The second phase includes accommodations for more than 6,000 employees and a state-of-the-art driving school, among other facilities. The company yesterday signed an agreement with Qatar Real Estate and Investment Company (QREIC), for implementing the project. The agreement was signed by Mowasalat chairman and managing director Jassim Saif Al Sulaiti and QREIC's chief executive officer Mohammed Ismail Mandani. Addressing the media later, Al Sulaiti said, the second phase will feature "high quality" accommodations for 6,200 employees. Ten housing units will be constructed at a total 40,000 sq m area, with a total built up area of 70,000 sq m. The driving school currently functioning at the Karwa City premises will be upgraded to a highly sophisticated facility. "Currently the driving school has the capacity to train 1,000 people and this will be increased to 2,200 as part of the second phase. When completed, the school will be one of the most advanced and sophisticated facility of its kind in the region," claimed Al Sulaiti. The second phase of the project will cost a total of QR250m. The company expects to complete the constructions in 22 months. A spacious parking lot for Karwa buses and taxis, along with a workshop was constructed during the first phase of the project. The sprawling Karwa City, located next to the company headquarters in the Industrial Area will also include a shopping complex, restaurants, play grounds, mosque, green areas, among other facilities. " By 2012, our staff strength is expected to grow up to 10,000. Our expanding fleet of taxis and buses will also witness a massive growth by that time," said Al Sulaiti. Constructions in the second phase will be carried out by the Al Sraiya Trading and Contracting Company, a part of the Al Sraiya Holding Group. Rashid Nasser Sraiya Al Kaabi, vice chairman of Al Sraiya Holding Group, Waleed Raslan Al Abdullah, deputy general manager and finance director of Mowasalat, Ahmed Al Ansari, director business development department and other senior officials were present. Even as Mowasalat is set for a major expansion of its fleet of buses and taxis, a senior official of the company said yesterday that the move may not fully resolve the taxi shortage in the city, since it has been caused by the ongoing road works and the traffic congestions. In a reply to a query from The Peninsula, Mowasalat chairman Jassim Saif Al Sulaiti said, the problem can be properly addressed only when the major road works are completed. "Even if you put 3,000 taxis, it may not help in the current situation, due to the heavy traffic jams. The real problem is that our drivers can not reach the places in time. If we deploy more vehicles, it could even aggravate the problem. We need to assess the requirements of each area to decide how many taxis are actually required. However, an accurate assessment will not be possible until the major road works are completed," said Al Sulaiti. He said, some 2,500 taxis can meet the demands of the city, once a free flow of traffic is assured. "Complaints about taxi shortage is not something unique in Qatar. I have witnessed it even in some European countries," added Al Sulaiti. He said, the company will be adding 150 new taxis to its expanding fleet in a week's time. In January next year, a number of new buses will also be introduced. "In January, we will be introducing a number of buses, with a different shape and design, and with high specifications," said the official. Asked if the company had shelved plans to franchise the taxi service to private companies, Al Sulati said, " The proposal is still under study. Operating taxis is a very responsible job, especially managing the staff. Most companies are not prepared to take up this task, in the current scenario. We will wait for a suitable time." The Pen

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