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Motorists to get new route if toll is implemented to ease traffic

DUBAI — “Road toll is one way to reduce traffic jams in the city, but can only be implemented after thorough feasibility studies have been conducted,” said Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of Roads and Transport Authority while unveiling new identities and services for the public transport agency yesterday.

He also said that if the toll was implemented, motorists would be given alternative routes if they did not wish to pay. “Dubai is losing over Dh4billion in traffic jams and Dh2million in accidents. We are not inventing the system, and it will not be applied until studies have been carried out,” he clarified.

Ammar bin Tamim, Director of the Dubai Taxi Department, announced a taxi service called Ladies Taxis. “Initially, 50 modern and comfortable vehicles are being introduced for this service which will be driven by 100 women working seven days a week, round-the-clock,” he said.

Bin Tamim said: “All taxis will be beige and will be distinguished from company to company through different colours. Uniforms of the drivers will also be beige with his tie of the same colour as the taxi. ”

Dubai Taxi remains red. 'Dubai Taxi' retains the largest number of taxis, a total of 3,208 vehicles run by 4,500 drivers. From 2004 till the end of last August, 34,976,200 trips were made while 87,440,500 passengers were transferred.

Trips during the first eight months of this year were 1,900, 882 while 4,752,205 passengers were transferred. The top of Ladies Taxis will be pink, while National Taxis consisting of 754 cars will be yellow. Cars Taxis with 754 cars will be blue and Metro Taxi with 754 cars will be brown.

The Al Arabia Taxi, operating 500 cars will be green and the City Taxi with 30 vehicles will be white.

The Hatta Taxi with 30 vehicles will be golden.

Engineer Najib Al Zarooni, Director of the Intercity Transport Department, announced the fleet of medium-sized buses across the city, consisting of 111 air-conditioned medium-sized buses, are regularly being maintained by qualified supervisors and in addition 170 new buses and 125 two-level buses will be introduced next year. He added that buses will be monitored by electronic control system called Automatic Vehicle Management working through satellites.

Reviewing the colours of Inter City Bus Transport, Al Zarooni said that the Emirates Express will be painted golden while Dubai Bus will be gray. He said that the demand for transportation service across the city witnessed a big increase during the first nine months of the current year.