Sunday, Nov 15, 2009
Gulf News
Dubai The Dubai Roads and Transport (RTA) has reiterated that all Dubai Metro stations on the Red Line will open in February, quashing reports of any further delays.
"We are all set to open the rest of the 19 stations on the Red Line in February next year as the work is fast approaching completion," said Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA, after visiting stations under construction. Earlier, some reports suggested that opening of the stations on the Red Line may be delayed by two to three months until May next year.
"Construction work including all civil work on the 19 stations on the Red Line have been completed while 80 to 97 per cent electro-mechanical work has also been finished," Al Tayer noted during his inspection trip. He was accompanied by Abdul Majeed Al Khaja, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the RTA's Rail Agency, Adnan Al Hammadi, Director of the Rail Construction Department and a number of other senior officials.
Al Tayer said the main Operation Control Centre (OCC) built at Al Rashidiya Metro Depot would also open in February. Currently, trains were being operated from a smaller OCC in Jebel Ali Depot.
The main OCC will have full control of the daily operation of the metro service on both lines.
The centre will monitor, control and supervise train movement, signalling system, telecommunication systems, electrical systems and all other related activities.
snag
burst pipe disrupts service
A water pipe burst on Shaikh Zayed Road yesterday, disrupting the Dubai Metro operations for six hours.
Three of the 10 metro stations — Mall of the Emirates, Nakheel Harbour and Tower and the Financial Centre — were shut from 6am to 12.10pm as workers from Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) repaired the pipe, which burst right under the elevated track of the metro, very close to the Al Quoz Metro Station. The incident occurred around 4.30am, flooding part of Shaikh Zayed Road.
"We closed the stations and curtailed the operation to ensure safety because the power supply had to be disconnected," Peyman Younus Parham, spokesperson of the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority, said.
— A.A.
By Ashfaq Ahmed
Gulf News 2009. All rights reserved.
