Free bus rides during Eid Al Fitr holidays

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has worked out a comprehensive plan for managing the traffic movement and mass transit means in Dubai as part of preparations for the upcoming Eid Al Fitr holiday. Directional signs have been installed in the Burj Khalifa district and the Downtown area, which is expected to be a hub of activity during the holidays. Ten buses will offer free transit from the Dubai Mall to the Dubai World Trade Centre starting from 1 pm on the first day of Eid till the end of the holidays.
Maitha bin Udai, CEO of RTA Traffic and Roads Agency and Head of the team responsible for the management of traffic movement and the handling of operational plans during annual events explained that the RTA has worked out operational plans for serving riders during the holiday of Eid Al Fitr; which always experiences traffic congestion. "The plan, which encompasses Burj Khalifa district, included installing 20 directional signs to guide traffic to internal roads of the Business Bay up to the Sheikh Zayed Road, and Al Khail Road to ease the pressure on the Financial Center Road," said Maitha. She explained that temporary signs have been put in place to direct road users to Zabeel bridges leading to Burj Khalifa from Sheikh Rashid Street. "To ensure the smooth traffic flow during peak hours, the light signals on the Financial Centre Road will be monitored and controlled to achieve optimal traffic flow," she added.
"A program is currently underway involving preventive maintenance and cleaning of Eid Prayers, mosques, bridges and tunnels. Particular attention is given to washing main tunnels and metal rail of bridges, removing dust and solid deposits on pavements, especially at bridges, washing pedestrian bridges, and cleaning directional signage at main roads of the Emirate," said Maitha. She elaborated that a technical team comprising engineers and inspectors of the Roads Maintenance Department has coordinated with the Traffic and Roads Departments a survey of areas around Eid prayers to take necessary corrective measures required for making any carry out emergency repairs during the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
Free transit in 10 buses
Adel Shakri, Director of Planning and Business Development and Head of the Public Transport Team in the team responsible for the management of traffic movement and the handling of operational plans during annual events, said: "10 public buses have been deployed to offer free commuting to the public from the Dubai Mall to the Dubai World Trade Centre to make for the anticipated high occupancy of taxis in vital areas of the Emirate during Eid Al Fitr holiday." He elaborated that buses will provide services to the public starting from 1 pm up to the end of events during the Eid days. A team of traffic controllers will be at site to directly cope with events, and pick up points have been fixed for buses dedicated to lifting tourists along the Financial Centre Road, and tourists will be directed to the specific loading areas."
Shakri urged the public to use the smart app "Sharekni"; which has just been launched, enabling individuals to share vehicles in traveling around the city in a bid to slash the number of vehicles on Dubai roads, offer smooth mobility, and reduce tailbacks at areas where Eid celebrations take place.
As regards the taxi sector Shakri said: "We have coordinated with the franchise companies in the Emirate (Dubai Taxi, Cars Taxi, Arabia Taxi, National Taxi, Metro Taxi and City Taxi) to ensure the operational efficiency of taxis such that the number of taxicabs operated during Eid Al Fitr holiday is not less than 95 per cent of the taxi fleet (9341 vehicles). Besides that, taxicabs will be distributed to Dubai districts, especially tourist sites, malls and festivity areas.
All limo companies will be allowed to lift riders during Eid days from malls witnessing high density visitors, such as the most prominent tourist destination the Dubai Mall. "The Booking and Distribution Centre will be ready to offer 24-hour service for clients by receiving booking requests, deploying Hala Taxi cabs to serve clients of the centre, and establishing a link between the centre and staffs at site in support of external events as well," added Shakri.
The Dubai Taxi Corporation has set up an emergency team during Eid Al Fitr to serve the needs of all customers, visitors, service users, motorists and taxi riders. Alternatives plans and mini teams have been set up to support the main team as required by the nature of services.
Plans include supporting Dubai Airports (T1, 2 and 3 in addition to Al Maktoum Airport), Dubai Mall, Metro Stations and different events in the Emirate in coordination with the customers' service section at the Agency and other entities such as the Civil Aviation, Dubai Airports and the Booking and dispatch centre at the RTA.
The Dubai Taxi Corporation stands ready to receive customer requests for taxis during Eid and afterwards so as to ensure the availability of taxis in residential areas, malls, metro stations, airports, hospitals and streets in addition to the Booking and Dispatch requests by calling the number 04-2080808.

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