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Public transport system in Sharjah by year end

SHARJAH —“The much-needed public transport system in Sharjah will be available by the year end. All possibilities and key factors are being taken into consideration regarding its implementation,” according to Abdallah M. Al Zari, Director-General of Sharjah Transport Corporation.

Prequalification tenders from qualified UAE and international public transport operators have already been invited to start 130 to 160 buses for 18 routes within the emirate, Al Zari had said in an earlier interview.

The Sharjah Transport Corporation hosted a two-day workshop on Tendering in Public Transport System in the Mena Region at the Millennium Hotel in Sharjah.

The workshop which was held from June 6-7, was organised by the STC and included major industry players, including international transport operators who had gathered to discuss issues on tendering as a process.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, Ghadeer Kunna, Head of the UITP Regional Office for Mena, said: “We have discussed the complexities involved in taking and giving tenders and services. We have also discussed tendering with regard to the Metro system in the Mena region."

She also explained that UITP (International Association of Public Transport and other key players from all over the world had gathered to discuss the growth in the region.

“The region is growing population-wise while the growth of infrastructure has to be expanded to meet the demands. This workshop aims to provide the end-user with solutions regarding transport," explained Ghadeer.

Talking about the upcoming system, Al Zari had said that the Sharjah City Network of public transport buses would be 100 per cent affordable.

He had also said that before fares were fixed, the class of people who would use the transport would be considered.

Hinting at the links with Dubai Metro, Al Zari said that as the SPTC route covered Sahara Centre area, and if the metro project, too, was linked to this area, then an automatic link would be formed for the public.

He said that connections were being formed within the eastern region as well. All buses plying within the emirate might be operated using compressed natural gas (CNG), but that has not been decided as yet, he added.