Dubai Metro labourers have been working hard to finish building the network, but have not yet had the chance to ride on it. Many are hoping to finally do so this Eid, reports Fareed Rahman
For many of the thousands of labourers working to build the Dubai Metro system, they are too busy constructing the network to have been able to take a trip on the trains.
However they told 7DAYS they intend to use the Eid holidays to jump on the driverless trains for the first time.
Workers from many countries including India, Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, Thailand, and The Philippines have worked to construct the network over the past four years which saw just ten of the network’s 29 stations open on September 9.
During the inauguration of the metro, which has been built at a cost of dhs28 billion, Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) paid tribute to the workers who were involved in the project.
He said that without their hard-work the project would have never been realised.
On Friday 60,837 people rode the metro, which was up from 54,556 passengers on Thursday.
Peyman Younes Parham, Director of the RTA’s Marketing and Corporate department, expected that the trains would be used a great deal by the public during the Eid Holidays.
“Consequently, we appeal to the riders from different social cross-sections to be more patient when entering the stations and heading for the trains,” he said.
Syed Mohammed Hashim Shah, 32, from Pakistan,
has worked on the project for the last year. He said: “We work all day and go straight home to sleep at night. Where is the time to ride it? I have been on a train before but never on a metro. I’ve heard a lot of good things about it and am planning to travel on it during the Eid holidays.
It will be a dream come true for me.”
Mohammed Kausar Hussain, 34, from bangladesh,
is working at the station in Garhoud, which has not yet opened. He said: “I have been working on the project for the past year. I see the trains pass everyday and feel proud to see them running. I will definitely take a ride on them in the coming days. The train really looks good from outside but I am yet to see how it looks from the inside.”
Sayyad Ul Islam, 40, from Bangladesh,
said: “We had to work day and night to complete the stations. There is a lot of work which still needs to be done.
I am yet to take a ride on the metro since it was launched although I have heard a lot of good things about it. I feel proud to be associated with the project and will continue working on it until all the stations are finished.”
Sikander-e-Azam, 19, from Pakistan,
said: “I don’t know much about Dubai Metro even though I have been working on the project for the past seven to eight months. My main job involves erecting scaffolding. We are busy working all day so don’t find the time to go on it. I am planning to ride the metro during the Eid holidays and make the day a special one.”
Mandeep Singh, 25, from India,
said “Dubai Metro looks beautiful. It does not make a lot of noise and runs smoothly on the tracks. I am proud to have worked on it. I have not been on it but plan to do so very shortly, however this will not be my first ride on a metro train. I have been on the New Delhi Metro which is fantastic. I hope Dubai Metro is just as good as the Delhi one.”
Nisham Singh, 40, from India,
said: “I work as a foreman and there has been a lot of emphasis on safety.
Helmet, safety belt and shoes are a must at all the sites while we have been working.
However I have been too busy working to take a trip on a train as yet.
I am proud to work for Dubai Metro and hoping to travel on it shortly. It will be a fantastic experience for me.”
fareed.rahman@7days.ae
