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RTA’s Marine Agency merges with public transport section

DUBAI — The Roads and Transport Authority’s (RTA) Marine Agency, which handled marine transport operations like Abras, water buses and water taxis, will now work as one of many departments of Public Transport Agency (PTA).

The decision was taken as part of RTA’s organisational restructuring to increase efficiency, optimise use of resources and reduce cost.

Under the order from Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of the Executive Council, a revision of RTA’s organisational chart was done which included a merger of the Marine Agency with PTA where a Marine Transport Department was formed. The new department comprises commercial marine transport studies, marine operation and maintenance, and marine projects sections.

Other changes that came into effect as part of the decision are changes in the name of several departments. PTA’s Bus Fleet Drivers Affairs Department is renamed as Drivers Affairs Department, Bus Drivers Training & Qualifying Section of Drivers Affairs Department has been renamed as Drivers Training & Qualifying Section, and Permits of Practicing the Business Section of Drivers Affairs Department has been renamed as Drivers Permits section.

According to its newly revised organisational chart, RTA comprises three support Sectors: Strategy & Corporate Governance, Corporate Administrative Support Services, and Corporate Technical Support Services. It also has five operational Agencies: Traffic & Roads Agency, Public Transport Agency, Licensing Agency, Rail Agency and Dubai Taxi Corporation.

Following the streamlining, the Organisation Chart of PTA stands as follows: Business Planning & Development Department, Franchise and Enforcement Department, Bus Department, Transport Systems Department, Maintenance and Services Department, Drivers Affairs Department, and the new Marine Transport Department, besides the Office of the CEO, and the Office of Quality, Heath, Safety and Environment.

Commenting on the decision, Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA said: “This decision comes in line with the strategy of the Dubai Government aiming at developing marine transport sector to enhance the competitive edge of the emirate at the global level. It also comes in the context of the partnership of the RTA with various government authorities and departments to boost the level of services rendered to customers and maximise the benefits of marine mass transit in the emirate.”

He added that the decision was taken after a comprehensive study was carried out by the RTA Restructuring Team to upgrade its operational efficiency, promote the integration of mass transport systems and ensure optimal utilisation of human resources in a way that bolsters the competitiveness of the RTA. — shafaat@khaleejtimes.com