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Partial metro closure on weekends begins

Dubai - The weekend closure, which started on Friday, is part of the Route 2020 metro expansion work and the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has arranged an alternative for the affected commuters with free shuttle buses.

Commuters taking the Dubai Metro have to bear with the partial closure of the Red Line between Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) and Ibn Battuta stations during weekends (Fridays and Saturdays) until October 15.
The weekend closure, which started on Friday, is part of the Route 2020 metro expansion work and the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has arranged an alternative for the affected commuters with free shuttle buses.
The RTA earlier advised metro riders heading to the UAE Exchange Station to drop off at JLT Station and board alternative free buses deployed to continue their journey to Ibn Battuta Station, where they would drop off to retake the metro service and resume their metro ride to the UAE Exchange Station.
Meanwhile, commuters travelling in the direction of Al Rashidiya Station should get off at Ibn Battuta Station and hop on the free buses heading towards JLT Station then hop off to continue their metro journey in the direction of Al Rashidiya.
Still, some regular public transport riders were caught unawares on Friday, like Filipino expat Martin Ganaganag. He said, however, that he didn't mind the extra minutes he has to travel from Mall of the Emirates to Ibn Battuta. "There was also no additional cost as the bus ride was free," he told Khaleej Times.
Mohammed Abu Baker Al Hashmi, director of planning and business development at RTA's Public Transport Agency, reiterated that the shuttle service is free. "This service is offered to meet the needs of public transport riders in general and metro commuters in particular between the said two stations. RTA is always keen to fulfil the needs of public transport users in Dubai," he said.
angel@khaleejtimes.com