The decision to increase the abra licence issue and renewal charges was taken by the Dubai Executive Council after discussions with 149 UAE national owners of abra boats and 300 operators, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said yesterday.
The RTA said it had discussed the matter with abra owners, who belong to the limited income group as well as abra operators and the opportunity of using abra boats for advertisements. That, it said, can bring up revenues of each abra from an average of Dh70,800 to Dh141,000 annually.
The decision came days after abra charges were raised from 50 fils to Dh1.
"The RTA set up a strategic plan to develop the marine transport system in the emirate with the cost exceeding Dh 1 billion, and that includes the development of the marine transport system for passengers inside Dubai Creek, to be used as an additional quick and integrated transport option," said Essa Abdul Rahman Al Dosari, CEO of the Marine Agency.
Increasing the licence charge was part of that plan, he said, though it was not disclosed how much this increase would be.
The ticket price for abras across the Dubai Creek was announced on December 28, after remaining static at 50 fils since 1992.
Some 60,000 people use the small open boats to cross the creek every day.
The licence charge increase, like the abra ticket cost, however, would not be implemented immediately. Al Dosari said the changes would be implemented in stages to ensure quick, safe and integrated marine transport.
The decision comes following an RTA survey of some 450 abra operators and owners in Dubai.
It is part of the RTA's move to overhaul and modernise its water transportation system, as the abras of today looks little different than the abras of 1981, the year the boats were introduced.
Al Dosari said the RTA had set up a special body to supervise the process of abra registration and licensing, which will also train abra staff to increase safety and customer service.
The modernised water transport system will also include water buses, water taxis and boats for group transport to reduce pressure on the UAE's increasingly busy roads.
Dubai's bus lines have already been altered to improve flow to the abra stations, with Line 19 now passing through Al Seef Abra Station, reducing abra customers' walk to just a minute before they can transfer to Line 3 to the Baniyas Station, opposite Dubai Municipality.
"These new alternatives will increase the revenues for the Abra owners and operators," Al Dossari added.
The RTA has also facilitated insurance for the abras, as few private insurance firms were willing to license the small boats prior to its involvement.
By Emirates Today Staff
© Emirates Today 2007
