The Magazine of Dubai Women's College Volume 16 Issue 2, May ...

The project is also an environment friendly
alternative to cars and busses and will help
reduce pollution in the city. In response to
several studies on eco-friendly modes of
transportation, done inside and outside the
country, the Roads and Transport Authority
in Dubai (RTA) has a 30-billion dirham strategic
plan to deal with the current situation and
the future challenges. With a track network
of 318 km by 2020 that would carry 200,000
commuters per hour, the Dubai Metro project
has been launched. According to RTA, Dubai
Metro provides an alternative mode of
transport that will ease traffic congestion,
reduce traffic-borne pollution and improve air
quality; thereby creating a better environment
for the city’s residents and visitors. The metro
will not only enhance mobility within the city,
it will also reduce dependency on cars and as
a result the total health care costs attributed
to air pollution will decrease approximately
by one million dirham per year. Studies for
developing the metro system started back
in 1997. The study was completed during
1997-2000; it has concluded that Dubai could
not rely solely on its current roads transport
systems to meet future traffic demands. The
study suggested that there was a definite need
for a transit system to ease congestion and
adoption of practical transport policies that
would focus on traffic regulation and
protection of the environment. “It is
anticipated that by 2017 nearly 1.2 million
people will use the trains daily, with 17,000
passengers at peak hours and 355 million
people a year. With a carrying capacity of
up to 50,000 passengers per hour, the
mass transit system will be able to meet
public demand until well beyond 2020,”
Huddersfield’s study anticipates.
Metro Construction
Abdureedha Abu Al Hassan, the Director of
Planning and Design Department, Rail Agency
– RTA, says, Dubai Metro consists of two lines
(first and second stage), and will be followed
with extra future lines (purple, blue etc.).
The Red Line will be in operation by
September 9, 2009, whereas the Green Line
will be functioning on March 10, 2010. The
Purple Line is expected to be ready by 2012
and the Blue Line is expected to operate before
2015. Abdureedha says.
Environmental Concerns
During construction, Dubai government has
formed a set of laws to support the environment,
using purification methods in order to have
unpolluted surroundings. Abdulmajid Al-Khaja,
the CEO of Rail Agency, RTA, says, “The
necessary precautions are taken to protect the
environment during construction and the Health,
Quality, Safety and Environment Department
(HQSE) closely monitors the effect of these
activities on the environment on short and long
term basis.” Equipment failing to meet the sound
limits is only allowed to function throughout
late morning hours and not at night. “The
contractor has been asked to take precautions
to protect the surrounding environment. This
not only ends at the construction sites, but
also while manufacturing and delivering the
rolling stock and during operations,” he adds.
The quality Safety Environment and Health
Department of the rail agency has established air
sanitization systems and monitors to calculate the
gas levels. Manufacture and construction waste
will be taken and positioned in containers, which
will be emptied frequently. “The Dubai Metro is
one of UAE’s most prestigious projects which will
further enhance the Emirate’s image,” says
Abdermajid.
Underground station. Road cross over bridge from a station.
Provided by: RTA
Provided by: RTA