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Metro promises to speed up growth

DUBAI — The upcoming prestigious Metro Project will present a new face of Dubai when its first phase is completed by September 2009, starting revenue generation.

In order to realise its vision of smooth transportation system within the emirate, the Government of Dubai created the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) on November 1, 2005. The Dubai Metro is the flagship project of the RTA , with the total investment of approximately Dh15.5 billion (inclusive of the project management fees and utility diversions). The state-of-the-artengineering, technological challenges, visibility throughout the city, an architectural showpiece and direct role in providing social benefits are other features of the ambitious project.

In addition, it will be a catalyst for improving real estate value, economic development and urban regeneration along its main route and arteries. Dubai Metro will create employment opportunities for both the local population and the region.

Say the officials: “The Dubai Metro will be a watershed in the Arabian Peninsula as it will be the first Railway System of its kind in the region, hence there is a lot of excitement and support for it.”

As part of its modernity drive, vision and concerns for the environment, the Dubai Government commissioned studies to evaluate most efficient and cost-effective solution to combat traffic congestion and pollution, its by-product. The recommendation of these studies were the creation and development of a Metro for Dubai City.

Explains Abdul Majid Abdul Razzaq Al Khaja, CEO Rail Agency, “The aim of the Metro System is to provide an alternative mode of transport to ease congestion, save travelling time, reduce traffic pollution, improve mobility within the city, provide connection to Dubai International Airport, and deliver modern, comfortable and reliable services to the Metro users.”

Initial studies for developing a metro system started back in 1997 with a feasibility study known as R7100. The study was completed during 1997-2000 with the conclusion that Dubai could not rely solely on Roads Transport Systems to meet its future traffic demands. Between 2000-2002, a follow-up planning study was commissioned under the title of PS002 - Dubai Transit Options Study whereby the initial R700 findings were refined and an initial design concept for a main rail corridor and a Central Business District (CBD) circular were developed with basic design drawings and routes defined.

During the period of 2002-2004, a more detailed planning study known as PS007 was commissioned whereby the Dubai Metro team prepared the preliminary engineering design concepts, technical specifications and tender documentations for a design and build contract based on FIDIC framework and the work was tendered in the marketplace in October 2004.

In July 2005, a design and build contract was awarded to a consortium known as Dubai Rail Link (DURL) that is made up of Japanese companies including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Corporation, Obayashi Corporation, Kajima Corporation and Yapi Markezi of turkey.

FAST FACTS ABOUT THE PROJECT

Dubai Metro will be a world-class, fully automated, driverless railway system. The new Metro will be constructed and delivered in two stages, Red Line (Stage 1) and the Green Line (Stage 2).

In the congested central areas of the city, the Metro lines will be built mainly underground, which will constitute the majority of the Green Line, whereas the Red Line will span along Shaikh Zayed Road, on a viaduct. Around 9,000 workers will be involved in the Dubai Metro project construction work from January 2007.

RED LINE

The Red Line Phase 1, is planned to be completed and to start generating revenue by 09/09/2009

Route covers the area between Rashidiya to Jebel Ali

Length of the Line is approximately 52km

The majority of the line is elevated, except between Port Saeed and Burjuman, where the line is constructed underground

There are 23 elevated stations, one at-grade station and four underground stations planned

Estimated journey duration from one end of the line to the other will be 64 minutes

GREEN LINE

The Green Line Phase 2, planned to be completed and start generating revenue prior to the date of March 9, 2010. The contract is worth Dh5.7 billion.

Route covers the area between Al Nahda Street to Health Care City

The total length of the line is around 17.6km

The route is made up of 10km elevated section comprising eight stations, and 6.7km underground section including five stations — excluding Union Square and Burjuman (Red Line) Interchange Stations

Estimated journey time from start to finish of the Line is approximately 26 minutes

THE PURPLE AND BLUE LINES

Some 96 kilometres will be added to the Dubai Metro network, with the addition of Purple and Blue railway lines

Two new lines will be added to the existing Red and Green Lines — the 49-km long Purple Line and an approximately 47km-long Blue Line

The 49km-long Purple Line also known as the Express Line — will link Dubai International Airport with Jebel Ali Airport. It will have eight stations and will be operational by 2012 — two years after the completion of the Red and the Green Lines. In total, Dubai will have 318km of metro lines by 2020 as some more tracks will be added gradually with the development of the city

Adnan Al Hammadi, Director of Construction Department, Rail Agency, said that the Purple Line is in the bidding stage now

The RTA officials say that the authority aims to ensure that Dubai Metro is designed to achieve an overall transportation solution taking into consideration other important modes of transport (e.g. buses, taxis and abra). The aim of the transport integration is to complement these other modes of transport and incorporate strategic bus/boat feeder points with flexible and user-friendly metro interchange stations