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Dubai: The ambitious air-conditioned bus shelter project has started taking shape in Dubai, but commuters say they are too small to accommodate the increasing numbers of commuters.
Each bus station is 2.5 metres wide and six metres long and has a capacity for 14 people. Eight people can sit while six can stand inside the shelter.
"I fee the bus shelters are too small to accommodate the large number of passengers," said Sara, a Filipina, who regularly takes the bus from Dubai World Trade Centre to Deira.
She said that at least 20 to 30 people wait for buses at most of the bus shelters while the number increases during peak morning and evening hours.
"I also don't see separate cabins for ladies at the bus shelters, which I am sure will be occupied by men most of the time," she added.
Kaleem Mohsin, a Pakistani, said it would be very nice to have air-conditioned shelters but they will not be big enough because the number of people using public transport is rapidly increasing.
"I have been using buses for the past four years but over the past year, the buses have become crowded and so have the bus shelters," he said.
According to the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) figures, some 88 million people in Dubai used public buses last year.
At present only a few bus shelters in Dubai offer shade and waiting for the bus is an unpleasant experience. During peak summer months, the average temperature is around 40C.
"Only one of the air-conditioned bus shelters near the Burj Al Arab is currently being used by passengers while the rest will be opened to the public before the summer sets in," said an RTA official.
He said the RTA had placed two bus shelters side by side in areas with a higher number of commuters using public buses.
Dubai is the first city in the world to offer the luxury of air-conditioned bus shelters for passengers. The aim is to lure people into using public transport, and ease the pressure on its crowded roads.
The project is being developed in coordination with the private sector.
The RTA will earn Dh17.5 million per annum from the company Right Angle Media, which is carrying out the construction project. The company will earn through advertisements in and outside the shelters and vending machines. A total investment of Dh210 million will be made by the investor over the next 10 years.
A total of 971 air-conditioned bus shelters will be built in the city. The new bus shelters will have an array of amenities for commuters.
Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA earlier, said: "We want to make sure that an increasing number of residents use the public transport system, which will in turn ease the flow of traffic. The provision of air-conditioned bus shelters will not only go a long way in achieving this objective but it will also complement Dubai's rapid pace of development."
In the pipeline: luxury terminals
The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) plans to have nine air-conditioned luxury bus terminals to replace the existing bus stations in Dubai, Gulf News has learnt.
The multi-storey terminals will have comfortable seating, restaurants, cafeterias and shopping areas. A parking area will also be provided. The new terminals will cater to the increasing demand for bus services.
- 9 air-conditioned luxury bus terminals to replace existing bus stations in Dubai
- 971air-conditioned bus shelters to be built in the city with an array of amenities
- 2500 buses to operate on the roads of the emirate by the year 2009
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