Sharjah Transport to increase bus trips

Wednesday, Sep 08, 2010

Gulf News

Franchisee firms instructed to send more taxis to populated areas

Sharjah Commuters’ wait for public buses will fall sharply during the Eid holidays as Sharjah’s transport authorities plan to increase the number of bus trips.

“We have made the necessary arrangements and are ready to increase the number of bus trips in the city, as well as ensuring that taxis will constantly circulate in busy areas during the three-day Eid holiday,” Majid Al Shamsi, Assistant Director General of Sharjah Transport, said yesterday.

However, the frequency of the buses will return to normal after the Eid holidays. Sharjah Transport will increase the number of trips for all its city bus lines with 500 additional trips per day, bringing the total number of bus trips to 1,500 per day.

Taxis from all five franchisee companies have also been instructed to circulate around populated areas.

Al Shamsi pointed out that the inter-city bus services have also been increased. “The preparations at Al Jubail bus station have been completed and bus routes will start earlier and more frequently during the Eid holidays.”

Al Shamsi noted that on the first and second day of Eid Al Fitr, inter-emirate buses will operate until midnight instead of the regular time of up to 11pm, adding that last year Sharjah Transport recorded 135,000 passengers on the first day of Eid. “Last year, we recorded up to 5,500 trips per day and we expect the same rush this year as well,” Al Shamsi said.

The prepa-rations at Al Jubail bus station have been completed and bus routes will start earlier and more frequently during the Eid holidays.”

Majid Al Shamsi

Assistant Director General of Sharjah Transport

By Mariam M. Al Serkal?Staff Reporter