By Ashfaq Ahmed, Chief Reporter  www.gulfnews.com
Dubai: The Dubai Metro operator on Sunday started issuing fines to those violating the public transport rules, Gulf News has learnt.
The Metro staff in the stations and trains were seen carrying ‘fine books’.
“The Metro operator has started implementing rules to regulate the use of public transport after the first three days of the Metro ‘joy ride’,” a senior official from the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said.
The fines range from Dh100 to Dh2,000. The maximum fine will be issued for pushing the emergency button in trains when there is no ‘real emergency’.
An RTA official said a campaign will be launched to educate the public on using the Metro properly.
Meanwhile, some passengers yesterday complained that they could not recharge their Nol cards as many vending machines near bus stops broke down.
“I could not take the bus to work because I could not recharge my card at the vending machine. The bus driver was not carrying new cards,” a passenger said.
Gulf News also received numerous complaints about the issue.
Abdullah Al Madani, CEO of the RTA’s Corporate Services said: “We will look into the issue of broken vending machines.”
Your comments
I was quiet disgruntled on how Dubai Metro works. Nowadays, many commuters was complaining with the service Dubai metro has specifically on the fare, card inconvenient access, recharging of NOL, and I am no exemption. It consequently defeats the purpose of the commuters and RTA public service to mankind. As of now many people had suffered with despair hoping that the regular fare would normalize just like the old times. Metro fare is justifiable but at they should not similarly charge the same with bus and boat rides. I have no pun intend, just my two fills.
Caryl
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 14, 2009, 12:49
On Saturday 12th sept. I boarded the metro from Nakheel Harbour Stn. to go to Rashidiya. I used my Nol silver card. The train was terminated at AT3 station, since there was a technical snag on the line ahead. Since the metro did not go further due to technical problem, I had to cancel my plans to go to Rashidiya and I returned back to Nakheel Stn after almost 2 hrs
Merzi
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 14, 2009, 12:45
It is infact a good start from RTA for the metro for which I Congratulate them. But I do not understand how are we charged in the bus. Being a frequent commuter i am unable to understand this. 1 bus machine charges me AED 1.80 from Bur Juman to Al Mina Road and the other bus charges me AED 2.30. This system needs an improvement from RTA and they should make sure correct fare is charged for right distance and destination.
Sapna
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 14, 2009, 12:17
I work in media city, and i use bus to commute on a daily basis. Earlier it was only 2 dhs for me to travel from deira to media city, now its 4.10 dhs. Now am paying 12 dhs to travel to my office up
Sajith
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 14, 2009, 12:13
yesterday i buy nol card and i used only for ones,i swipe when i go out but the machen is broken so what i will do?i have to go,in the morning i have to ride again but the money of my nol card is gone,all the machen canot recharge,now i buy again another one i go to masaya center from satwa, the same thing again i canot use my nol card coz thier is no money at all, at dis momet i holding 2cards. 40dhs i spend just for 2days,i hope that very soon can setle it.thank you
Lucky Villeno
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 14, 2009, 11:50
I tried to go to work using the Metro on both Sunday and today (Monday) and was unsuccessful both the times. First time the Metro never showed up due to some technical glitches and the second time they were out of NOL cards. From my experience Metro is “highly” unreliable to say the least.
Sheraz Mufti
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 14, 2009, 11:45
most of the people are not aware of the rules
Simmi
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 14, 2009, 11:42
I would like to suggest to return the old system of RTA, cause some of the commuters got a small salary on thier jobs and we cannot afford to have an icrease on transportation, and if there’s an error on machine they deduct it more, please return the monthly rate card that it is much convient to us.
Drew
Abu Hail,Country
Posted: September 14, 2009, 11:41
I also faced to the same problem when trying to recharge my NOL card. the re-charge machine is showing “searching” command but if I was wait for more than 30min the screen not change. That time I thought the machine was stuck due to many people come and finger the screen (around 8.30pm). but next day early morning I could recharge hence nobodies around the area for fingering the screen. so I think people are not familiar with this machine and also some people tying to work with the machine but they dont have NOL card also. time been this will be ok. it will be common like ATM machines. people who want to use they will go to machine. but I hope authorities will find out weather there is any machine fault or not. also Id like to request to increase NOL recharge machines at least every 5-6 bus stops
Abdul
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 14, 2009, 11:39
Everyone is excited regarding Metro, this is something new to UAE and people want to know more. Proper conduct in public may not be the issue, it has more to do with the eagerness of people to explore and test. What if the emergency button doesn’t work in case it has to? Was the attempt of using an emergency button in Metro, an act of being alert and trying to caution the Metro care takers, showing responsibility or having fun? Responsibility and respect towards others plays major role, otherwise there’s a gap that can cause havoc to many others.
Smita Sinoy
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 14, 2009, 11:37
I think these minor faults are pretty normal and hopefully will be overcome by the authorities soon. Otherwise its been a historic moment for Dubai.Hopefully it soon gonna spread in the whole country.
Amjad Farooq
Kohat,Pakistan
Posted: September 14, 2009, 11:35
I was travelling on the metro yesterday and noticed quite a lot of office goers and shoppers using the metro. There were families and children who were enjoying the ride. I noticed one person who seemed uncomfortable because of the excitement of children. Children are ought to get excited and make some noise because they are children. But this person seemed really strange and probably doesn’t have any knowledge about child psychology and he was making faces, grumbling and staring at those children (even infants!) and at the parents…I would like to point out that the children were not crying or misbaheaving but were just a little loud because of the excitement. I strongly suggest such people who cannot tolerate crowd
Anuradha
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 14, 2009, 11:33
I think the nol card is not useable for public bus transport because some of the bus stop doesn’t have vending machines. Like me I’m staying at the area that have no vending machines how can I recharge my card?
eric perez
dubai,UAE
Posted: September 14, 2009, 11:27
I have seen lots of people who are unable to maintain proper conduct at public places just because they cant resist themselves by spoiling public properties. They want the best but they do not want it to be best till the end.
Rajkumar
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 14, 2009, 11:20
i noticed 2 young adult boys putting their hand in between when the metro door started to close and they started laughing aloud at their childish gesture . when i tried to tell them not to do such acts they very rudely asked me to mind my own business . at that point in time i had no evidence of their committed act or else i would have immediately reported this incident to the attendant and taken both of them to task.
Chandru Kanaya
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 14, 2009, 11:03
on my trip from dubai airport terminal 3 to jafliya, I saw many people who had come behaving in a weird manner in the train as if it was a playground, some of them were hanging from the railings in the metro, some were standing on the seats some were leaning against the doors and basically creating a scene. Please behave in a civilised manner as this is in bad taste.
Srinivasan
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 14, 2009, 10:44
In most of the buses when we board a bus the Nol card works, but when we get off it, the card doesn?t work. This is deducting more money from the card. Yesterday when I was travelling in C-14 when I boarded the bus the tag machine worked properly when I tagged the machine. While getting off, the machine did not work, because of which I lost Dh23. When I called the RTA they were just apologising,
Mohammad Akbar
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 14, 2009, 10:41
People were interested to travel on the metro on the first day. Now with the news, Metro operator starts issuing fines for breaking rules it would be interesting to know who is the record holder to be issued the FIRST fine by the metro and for what offence.
R. Narayanan
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: September 14, 2009, 10:41
According to new NOL system i am charging 4.80 means AED 5. while travilling before in the same bus i was charging AED 2,it means that per month i was charging AED 60 X 2side AED 120 now i am charging 4.80 X 30 X 2side AED total is 288 , can sombody pay whose salary is only 600 AED . i am requesting to RTA to Restructure the prevoiuse system
Ataullah
Dubai,U.A.E
Posted: September 14, 2009, 10:38
I’d like to congradulate the RTA for launching Dubai Metro right on schedule. However, I think it is very important for the RTA to edcucate commuters about certain Metro etiquettes. Some of which inculude; A-Ensuring that you are in the right cabin based on your ticket B-Allowing disembarking passengers to leave the train before boarding C- Keeping noise and voice to a minimal while onbaord D- Giving your seat to the elderly/disabled or children E- Proper personal hygiene so as not to disturb others with foul odour.
Arif
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 14, 2009, 10:03
We are so happy to ride in RTA busses and train. I usually don?t use my car and mostly ride the bus. But nowadays, I fear if while punching on my way out, if the Nol card is not registered, then an amount of Dh5.80 is reduced from the card. The bus drivers say they don?t know anything, they just give a booklet. Some travellers can?t read English or Arabic, so many people have been complaining about the new syste. RTA should educate passengers. Also, earlier, it cost Dh1.80 to travel from Bur Dubai to Deira. Now it comes up to Dh2.30.
Lalu P George
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 14, 2009, 10:03
On Saturday I travelled from Bur Juman to Mall Of Emirates. I didn’t notice any commuters behaving inappropriately. There was regular announcements made about next station that the train will be stopping.
L.V.S.Narayanan
Dubai,U.A.E
Posted: September 14, 2009, 10:03
please advise the authority to repair the card recharge machines for smooth running for passengers . most of the machines are damaged.
Krishnank
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 14, 2009, 08:58
Yesterday I tried 4 machines for recharging my card. But all the machines were out of order. Then I was forced to buy new card. We can’t aford to buy new card every time. So many people were waiting at the bus stops for this reason.
Cyril
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 14, 2009, 08:55
my metro ride on thursday afternoon was smooth! loved it from Rashidiya to MOE and back! withouth a delay. But I saw some ticket machines out of order for sure but i had money in my NOL card to return. RTA said in a press conference 0.00009% error rate would be there it does not seems like that.
Mansoor
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 14, 2009, 08:51
What should the commuters do when there is no NOL cards available with the bus drivers? how should they then travel, because some may only use the buses to commute daily.
Ishaq
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 14, 2009, 08:40
Some parents clearly showed disregard for the brand new Metro system. Many of the photos in GN and on TV news reports showed smiling children sitting with their dirty shoes up on the brand new seat cushions. Right next to, and in full view of, their oblivious parents. How will these childeren act as adults if their parents lack the common sense to keep street shoes off of seats? Do they live this way at home too?
Louie Tedesco
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 14, 2009, 08:30
Actually so many places to recharge the NOL card but what is so irritating is the machine itself inside the bus! The machine is accepting the card when you check in the bus but once you will get down and punch again, the machine is not accepting and 5 dirhams is gone!!! what kind of a service do they have!! We use the bus since its cheap, but its not actually!
Jovy
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 14, 2009, 08:11
Old red bus cards must be retained. Nol charges are higher than the usual Dhs 2 per ride, plus we have to swipe it when going out. If the machine is not working, we’ll pay more on our next bus ride. It is also inconvenient to re-load Nol cards where we have to find where the machine is located. In our case, we live in Al Nahda near Safeer and the neareast re-loading machine is at the back of Sahara Centre. I hope RTA will look into this matter and reconsider returning the old red bus cards.
Rose Francis Cucal
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 14, 2009, 08:10
Yesterday, I purchased a new Nol card worth Dh20. I only used it in the C2 bus – when I entered the bus I punched the card and on my exit at Muraqqabat. Now the balance is Dh11.40!
I want to know about this. Earlier I used to pay Dh2 for the same trip.
Pramod
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 14, 2009, 07:24
At least give the commuters some weeks to understand every thing. Punishing immidiatly is not ethical.
Karthik
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 14, 2009, 07:16
Last Thursday I travelled in the Metro from Rashidiya to City Centre along with me family using Nol card, each worth Dh20. During this back and forth journey my school-going son was allowed to use the train for free, but amazingly at the end the balance left in the cards was only Dh8!
It cost me and my wife Dh52, why and how I have no idea.
Zuhoor Khattak
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 14, 2009, 07:00
I didn’t see many commuters behaving inappropriately, but I feel that people still haven’t grown up and are still living in their old days. They have to realise that the world has changed. Metro is a revolution for Dubai, therefore, please take care of it.
Shahid Akram
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 14, 2009, 06:42
