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Dedicated lanes for new bus service in Sharjah on the cards

The newly-started Route Number 14 is still facing teething problems, including battling traffic and ensuring timely arrivals and departures. ‘The response we have received from the public until today is positive, except minor complaints about the timings, especially in the evenings. However, it is still too early to get a complete feedback on the bus service until at least another week,’ said Fahd Al Awadi, General Manager of KGL, the company managing the fleet for SPTC.

He said that as per SPTC's future plans, a dedicated bus lane would be fixed so as to resolve the traffic issues.

SPTC kick-started the much-anticipated bus service in the emirate of Sharjah on May 23 on a single route that runs from Al Sharq area to Sharjah International Airport. Currently, 11 buses are running on this route. Two more routes are planned within the city and are expected to start before the year-end after response to the single route has been gauged by the SPTC officials.

Meanwhile, many residents say they are yet to see the buses. ‘I have heard on the radio that the bus service has started in Sharjah, but I haven't yet seen a single bus,’ said Pritam P., a sales executive.

‘I am ready to use the bus because finding a taxi is impossible,’ he added.

Mary Calvez, another sales executive, said she waited long for the bus to arrive. ‘The service is good and the fare is also reasonable, but I had to wait directly under the sun for at least half an hour before the bus actually came,’ she said.

She said that setting up bus shelters would be a good idea. ‘I liked the ride, though a little long, but definitely better and cheaper than a taxi,’ she noted.

According to the consultant's survey, an estimated 83,000 passengers are expected to use the service every day after all three routes are completely operational, said Al Awadi.

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