Low-income expatriates from some Asian countries have stressed the need for better public transport connectivity to areas where their embassies are located.
A large number of expatriates from these countries seek different consular services on a daily basis. However, they often find it difficult to reach their embassies due to inadequate bus services to those areas, it is learnt. As a result, these people have to rely on taxis - and pay more in the process.
The Indian embassy was shifted to West Bay in June this year from its previous location in Al Hilal. While the new premises are larger, many expatriates feel that the place is difficult to reach due to poor bus access.
"Reaching the new location of the embassy itself is a difficult task for many people," a community forum representative stressed, noting that the embassy and Indian Cultural Centre could have been located in the same neighbourhood of Abu Hamour, where the latter is presently located, or surrounding areas.
Similarly, visitors to the relocated Sri Lankan embassy in Rawda have also complained about the lack of bus services to the area. Earlier, the embassy in Al Hilal was well connected by bus services, which were available from its immediate neighbourhood.
While the new location is also served by public transport buses, many people have said the operations are "skeletal" and not enough to cater to the demand.
Meanwhile, the Nepal embassy has moved for the third time in less than six years to a new location in Ain Khalid. The place is not far from the Industrial Area, which houses thousands of Nepalese workers, but poor bus connectivity forces these expatriates to rely on taxis to reach the embassy, sources said.
While Nepalese expatriates generally do not have any complaints about the location of their embassy, they feel it would be highly convenient for them if better bus services were provided to the area.
Reaching the Philippine embassy in the Jelaiah area of Dafna could also be a difficult task at times, especially for those without their own transport. Reaching the embassy as well as the Philippine Overseas Labour Office, both of which are frequented by a large number of visitors, could be a tough task and people have to depend on taxis due to the dearth of bus services, it is found.
"Even with the GPS system, many taxi drivers find it difficult to reach our embassy," a young Filipino expatriate said.
Some Asian expatriates feel providing circular services that link the missions of these and other countries can solve the problem of connectivity and also boost patronage for these buses.