Dubai buses will operate round the clock, says official

23 May 2006

Dubai: Public transport buses will ply round the clock on city roads to match the 24-hour lifestyle of Dubai, said a senior official at the Roads and Transport Authority.

The RTA is in the process of revamping the public bus network, expand its service to areas currently not served and is strengthening its existing corridors with more buses on the roads.

"We are developing a new range of service products to cater to different market groups and their needs," said Abdul Aziz Malek, Director of the Public Bus Department at the RTA.

High capacity 'metro bus' service providing metro-style transport along high-demand routes, VIP buses to lure high-income commuters and express service with more direct routes are some of the new initiatives being taken by the RTA to encourage more people to use public buses.

To establish a public transport system in Dubai that exceeds international service and quality standards by the year 2010, the RTA yesterday signed an agreement with Gargash Enterprises, the official Mercedes-Benz distributor for Dubai, Sharjah and Northern Emirates, to purchase 80 state-of-the-art public transport buses at the cost of around Dh120 million.

"This latest development is part of an ambitious transport strategy for an Intelligent Transport System, which will integrate buses, water transport, the metro and the taxis by 2010," said Mohammad Obaid Mulla, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Transport at the RTA.

The fleet consists of low floor buses including 49 articulated (long) buses, 18 standard buses and 13 coaches.

New system:Dedicated bus lanes planned

Dedicated bus lanes have been planned in Dubai to increase the average bus speed from the current 12 km per hour to 19 km.

"We want to increase the use of public transport buses by providing faster and convenient bus services," said Abdul Aziz Malek, Director of Public Bus Department.

Fact file

Number of buses: 576 and 80 to join in May, 2007

Passengers: 230,000 per day

Routes: 62

Taxis: 3000

Approximate passengers: 180,000 per day.