Tuesday, Sep 22, 2009
Gulf News
Ras Al Khaimah: The RAK Transport Authority is soon to introduce as many as 75 new buses that will work within the boundaries of RAK and connect the emirate with the rest of the UAE.
A total of 50 buses will be dedicated for routes in Ras Al Khaimah and the rest will connect RAK with other emirates.
According to Jason Farhat, Director of Commercial and Investment Affairs at the Transport Authority, five routes will be created within Ras Al Khaimah in a circular fashion, and they will start from the emirate's centre moving out to the borders.
He said the new buses will be of various sizes, accommodating 14 to 30 passengers, and are provided with the world's latest standards for passenger convenience.
Farhat said by the beginning of October, more than 90 per cent of the taxis owned by individuals will disappear from the streets, and none will be left by the end of this year. A total of 1,200 taxis, owned by three transportation companies, will meet the emirate's needs.
He added that the Transport Authority has already started paying compensation to Emirati owners of the number plates of the old taxis, and each of them will receive Dh500. He said that 27 Emirati taxi drivers have also been given Dh10,000 in compensation along with their monthly payments and that those drivers have already received their compensation.
He stressed that the replacement of the old taxis is currently on track and that the final target of replacing all these taxis will be achieved as per the schedule set up by the emirate's authorities.
Farhat said the Authority is currently working on setting up 60 family taxis that can be used by families and women.
He said that a study is under review to set up taxis that are dedicated to driving children to schools and employees to their workplaces. Families and employees can sign up for long-term contracts with the authority.
For the time-being, the RAK Taxi Stand includes buses which take passengers to Umm Al Quwain for Dh10 per passenger, Ajman for Dh15, and Sharjah and Dubai for Dh20.
Farhat said the service will be extended to Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. The Transport Authority will grant privileged rights to companies from Fujairah to run the service connecting the two emirates.
He said the RAK Transport Authority is currently discussing with its counterpart authorities in the other emirates to allow its buses to load passengers from these emirates on their way back to Ras Al Khaimah.
By Nasouh Nazzal, Staff Reporter
Gulf News 2009. All rights reserved.
