Sharjah Transport is proposing to build bus stands on the main Al Wahda and Al Arouba Roads as bus services to Dubai are set to begin in October this year.
Sharjah will initially use the services provided by Dubai Transport buses in a spirit of "partnership and cooperation", said Abdullah Al Zari, director of Sharjah Transport, yesterday.
"We are planning to restructure our transportation system. He said the new services are part of the new plan for public transport in the emirate to offer a cheaper mode of transportation and reduce traffic jams.
"The Dubai Transport buses are now returning to Dubai empty. We plan to use those initially."
Sharjah Transport will also build a bus station from where passengers can catch buses to other emirates. There will also be a taxi stand, he said.
The bus stands are proposed to be built in the Rolla area, and the second will be adjacent to City Centre on Al Wahda. "This is in coordination with the Department of Planning and Survey. Both locations are expected to give the public easy access to the new service," he said.
The agreement between Dubai and Sharjah Transport authorities is expected to be signed next month. "We will launch the service soon afterwards in October."
The director said individual taxis carrying passengers to Dubai will be taken off the roads once the infrastructure is complete.
"This agreement will mark the beginning of a gradual withdrawal of taxi licences to individuals. In many of these taxis the passengers are uncomfortable, as the vehicles are old and unclean. It is an inconvenient means of transport to both residents and tourists," he said.
Earlier, Sharjah Transport called on all taxi owners to provide details of their vehicles and has given a deadline of September 30 as it was setting up a database. It warned that if the deadline is not met, registration number plates will be taken away.
Sharjah Transport is expected to take over these individual taxis and professionally run them. Plans also are being finalised for the number of buses required, setting up bus routes and other transport issues within the next two months.
He said the department is working closely with other authorities to operate the public transport system. This phase will be completed within six months. The next phase will be the implementation of the project.
Gulf News
