Fast-food outlets at Abu Hamour gas station forced to close down
After banning the use of LPG cylinders at eateries in petrol station premises, authorities are planning stricter measures to ensure safety at food courts and restaurants at commercial complexes.
A ban on cooking gas at commercial complexes are not likely but an inspection campaign is in the offing to check if gas cylinders and tanks are installed and used safely at eateries.
Quoting an official source, a local Arabic daily reported yesterday the second phase of a campaign, launched in the wake of the gas tank explosion in a restaurant in a fuel station near Landmark Mall last month will target eateries at shopping malls and towers.
The Civil Defence Directorate has closed down five eateries at different petrol stations across the country for violating the ban on using LPG, said the daily.
All eateries at fuel stations have been asked to replace LPG cylinders and tanks with electric stoves.
The daily quoted the source as saying there will be no going back from this decision and no lenience and exemptions can be expected while enforcing the ban.
A majority of eateries have complied with the ban, said the daily.
While some eateries at fuel stations reportedly faced closure by the Civil Defence Department, many have downed shutters on their own apparently due to their inability to adjust with changes within the brief period, it has been learnt.
At least three popular fast food outlets at Abu Hamour petrol station remain closed following the ban, while another eatery has been shut by municipal authorities for other violation.
Abu Hamour petrol station houses about 18 eateries, mostly now functioning with electric fuel. Some eateries have stopped serving shawarma because they can no longer use gas, while some are bringing food cooked in their other branches in the city.
Using electric fuel is more expensive and time-consuming compared to gas, but eateries have not yet raised their prices for fear of losing customers.
“We have lost many customers after the incident. Many people think that all eateries at petrol stations are closed. If we increase prices, we may lose even existing customers,” said the manager of an Indian restaurant.
It is good decision,all cylinders should be out even of this world because they are very dangerous and not healthy at all.Enigma modern world is Electricity if you are European you should know that?
Back forward to the past. I think this wrong movement policy change gas to electric. We life in modern world.....
a healthy economy is a chain of different segments....How about sustaining only with the wealthy segment who still depend on others for 90% of their reqs starting from business, household, trade, shopping and even necessities! And its too early for Doha to say they want only wealthy class... the outskirts of the city looks much worse than the most rural villages in Asia. If there are robots to all of the jobs ya lets dream of that! So putting a total restriction on something when its mismanaged is the most stupid thing to do. What if entire world bans Gas then and imagine the deficit on Qatar's export.
I agree wholeheartedly that MacDonalds tastes horrible, but have you ever been to Abu Hamour petrol station at 11pm on a Thursday night? There are hundreds and hundreds of cars, all lining up to buy something from KFC, MacDonalds, Hardees or Pizza Hut. In the long run, there's no way that the small, independently operated sellers of shwarmas, Indian food and cafeterias will be able to compete with the fast food alternatives for much longer.
This is all part of the trend of kicking lower income people out of Qatar and replacing them with western clones.
I am not sure I agree with fubar.. i know some smaller restaurants are competing well with large US franchise outlets.. in fact I find McDonal food unhealthy and not so tasty... so it depends on people.. especially if you have kids... try to avoid fast food outlets... nothing better than home made food
In turn they 'll also be hurting comparatively less peoples pockets & health .....
Thu , 20.03.2014 , 10.18 hrs ..
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I feel sorry for the people trying to run the Indian restaurant. They can't compete against the wealth and market power of the western franchise fast food restaurants like MacDonalds and Hardees.
A step in the right direction ....
Thu , 20.03.2014 , 10.00 hrs ..
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I think changing gas cookers to electric cookers is not a practical solution after the tragic accident. The root cause should be investigated and action to be taken accordingly.