The storm had already claimed the lives of at least two people in China's Hainan and 16 people in the Philippines
asia9 hours ago
As many as 10 ferries, each with a capacity to accommodate 100 passengers, would serve as an additional mode of water transport complementing the existing services of abras, water buses and water taxis.
The service, which was originally planned to be launched this year but had to be postponed indefinitely along with other projects thanks to the global economic downturn, would ferry people from across the city through 40 stations being planned along different beaches and the creek.
“Right now, we have public water transport services only on the creek, through abras and water buses. We have water taxis that go across the city, but it is something that could not be classified as public; it is an elite service. So we are now going with our original plan to start ferries that would serve the entire city,” Dr Khalid Mohammed Al Zahed, Director of Marine Projects Department at the RTA, told Khaleej Times on the sidelines of the Society of Engineers conference.
Around 40 locations have been earmarked to serve as stations for the big boats, besides the existing ones that serve water taxis, buses and abras.
“We have earmarked the locations and some stations are already in different stages of planning and would be hitting the floor soon,” Al Zahed added.
He indicated that the project, which was frozen until a few months ago, came back to life following a warm response to water taxis as well as positive results to the surveys.
“Though the water taxi is expensive and is a five-star service, we have had a very good response since it was launched three months ago. It shows that there is great scope of growth in water transport.”
With abras ferrying people across the creek of Dubai since time immemorial, water transport is the oldest mode of public transport in the city, but it is only recently that its potential as a mode of mass transit began to be explored.
According to UITP, the international association for public transport, Dubai’s marine transport system is the best in the world with a ridership of more then 20 million passengers annually.
With Dubai’s transport scene growing exponentially through the launch of the metro and other multi-pronged transport modes, it was an opportune time for the Gulf Engineering Forum to make its third visit to the city.
The biennial forum with the focus this year on ‘Intelligent Transport Systems’ will discuss the growth of transport and share ideas to develop it further in the region. The December 19-21 event will also host exhibitions featuring completed projects as well as future initiatives for the region.
The storm had already claimed the lives of at least two people in China's Hainan and 16 people in the Philippines
asia9 hours ago
Dubai Police have asked drivers to be extra cautious
transport9 hours ago
The former all-rounder has returned to cricket during the past year after a horrific car crash at the end of 2022
cricket10 hours ago
Dubai Police have asked drivers to be extra cautious
emergencies10 hours ago
The country has set a new Guinness World Record by creating the largest falcon hood, beating the previous record of 1.65 metres
uae11 hours ago
Hamas' health ministry said that 94,616 people have been wounded since the conflict began on October 7
mena11 hours ago
In most Islamic countries, including the Gulf countries, the Prophet's birthday is observed on 12 Rabi’ Al-Awwal 1444
uae holidays12 hours ago
Traffic will be diverted to the opposite side during this period
transport13 hours ago