New bus depot in Rawiyya, Dubai to open in June 2009

A new Dh400 million public bus depot in Rawiyya will be operational in June this year, said a senior official.

“More than 75 per cent of construction work on the modern bus depot, which will provide a range of services including maintenance workshops and supply services, has been completed,” said Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority.

He conducted an inspection visit of the construction site along with senior RTA officials including Engineer Essa Abdul Rahman Al Dossari, Chief Executive Offier of the RTA’s Public Transport Agency.

Al Dossari briefed Al Tayer about the progress on the construction work. He said Phase I, which costs about Dh205 million, covers construction of Bus Parking Yard for 295 buses, an electromechanical workshop, supply line, and washing and cleaning unit Phase II of the project comprises construction of an administrative building for about 40 employees, and drivers’s quarters with a capacity to accommodate 444 drivers.

Phase II includes construction of investment buildings spanning an area of 3005 square meters comprising restaurants, retail outlets in addition to a mosque to accommodate about 250 persons.

“These projects are part of an integrated plan to overhaul public buses network that aims to enable public transport users’ smooth mobility to any destination in Dubai” said Al Tayer.

He added the RTA will have more than 2000 buses by the end of this year while a total of 1250 air-conditioned bus shelters are being built to benefit bus users. So far 770 air-conditioned bus shelters have been constructed and 440 of which have been operational.

“Construction of bus depots at Jebel Ali, Rawiyya, Khawaneej and Al Aweer will ensure smooth bus operation,” he said.

He said that the public bus improvement plan also includes construction of Bus Passenger Stations at Al Qouz, Satwa, and Karama. These stations will have range of services for commuters including parking lot, passenger pick-up and drop off areas, retail outlets, restaurants, and offices.

Construction work is also being carried out at fast pace at the Public Bus Depots in Khawaneej and Jebel Ali.

The Jebel Ali Bus Depot will have the capacity to accommodate 300 buses in addition to maintenance workshop, washing and fueling areas. The station will also have offices for about 50 employees along with residential complexes for 1200 bus drivers.

The RTA has also recently started construction work at the Khawaneej Bus Depot. The project includes parking yard for 295 buses, an electromechanical workshop, washing facilities, administrative block and residential complex for drivers.

Source: www.gulfnews.com