By Ashfaq Ahmed, Chief Reporter www.gulfnews.com
Dubai: Dubai Metro users should avoid running in the stations to catch trains as it poses a danger to other users and property, said a senior official.
The warning came as a commuter complained that he was slapped with a fine for running inside the station to catch a train.
“We advise passengers not to run in the stations or the platform because trains come every six minutes during peak hours and every eight minutes during off-peak hours,” said Ramadan Abdullah, Director of Rail Operations at the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
He said running could be dangerous for other commuters, especially during peak hours.
Abdullah, however, said that any commuter who has objection against any fines issued by the Metro inspectors has the right to complain to the RTA.
“We have closed circuit cameras installed at the stations, on the tracks and even inside the trains with recording facility for up to 28 days and can always find out whether the fine slapped was right or wrong,” he said, adding that safety and security of the commuters and Metro property are top priorities for the RTA.
Meanwhile, the Dh28-billion Dubai Metro project is gradually expanding as three more stations were opened yesterday on the Red Line. This brings the number of operational stations to 21 out of the planned 29. “The remaining eight stations will open gradually in the coming months by the end of this year,” said Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA.
Feeder buses
The new stations started receiving passengers as the Metro operations started at 6am yesterday. The newly opened stations are World Trade Centre, GGICO in Al Garhoud and Noor Islamic Bank (Al Quoz) on Shaikh Zayed Road.
Some 14 feeder buses have been deployed to link the new Metro stations with the surrounding areas offering bus services with 13-20 minutes’ frequency. This brings the total feeder buses serving the stations to 152.
“We expect the number of commuters will increase to more than 140,000 per day with the opening of new stations,” said Al Tayer. The GGICO station will serve a large number of schools in the Al Garhoud area. The World Trade Centre station will be mainly used by visitors to the Dubai World Trade Centre and hotels and offices and residential towers on Shaikh Zayed Road and Satwa.
Noor Islamic Bank Station, earlier known as Al Quoz Station, is expected to be one of the most popular stations due to the high density of industrial and commercial establishments in the area.
