19.2m used Sharjah buses and taxis in three months

People queue up to board a Sharjah bound public bus at a bus station.

Sharjah - Figures show 19.25million passengers have used the Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority buses and taxis from January 1 to March 31 this year.

Published: Thu 21 Apr 2016, 7:12 PM

A significant 11 per cent rise in the use of public transport has been recorded in Sharjah in the first quarter of the year as compared to the same period last year.
Official figures show that up to 19.25million passengers have used the Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority (SRTA) buses and taxis from January 1 to March 31 this year.
"The RTA Sharjah bus and taxi fleets have transported up to 213,000 passengers on a daily basis in the first quarter of the year," said Abdulaziz Al Jarwan, Director of SRTA for Transport Affairs.
"This is actually 11 per cent spike in comparison to the same quarter in 2015."
The four franchise companies operating in the emirate Sharjah, Union, Citi, and Emirates Cab have managed 857,000 trips in the first quarter of the year, he added.
"Up to 16.12 million depended on taxi service over the first three months."
However, most of the taxi service were recorded in January during which 2.7million trips or around 87,503 daily trips were run, Al Jarwan said.
"This means around 175,000 daily passengers," he added.
Meanwhile, Sharjah public bus recorded 1.58million passengers which amount to 83,642,000 trips, in the first quarter of the year.
"However, most bus passengers were registered in March which saw 563,283 passengers or 18,170 daily commuters; nine per cent rise as compared to the same period last year."
The significant rise has been mainly attributed to the amended tariff and reduced frequency time, Al Jarwan said.
"Bus route (88), starting from Rolla square and ending at Sajaa, has also been supported with bigger coaches, and extra stops."
As for intercity buses, they have run 64,765 trips in the first three months of the year or 17,220 daily trips; 5,000 trips more compared to the previous year.
"Up to 1.5million passengers have used intercity bus service in the first quarter of the year; 57,424 more passengers as compared to the same period last year."
The rise in number of passengers is attributed to addition of more buses, which now stands at 130 buses in total.
"Now, 14 intercity buses are being operated by SRTA in the country," he said, adding that 17 more intercity buses will be added in the last quarter of the year.
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com