By Karen Chernick www.greenprophet.co
The Dubai Metro system, which already carries over 100,000 passengers a day, expanded to three more stations last week in an attempt to increase ridership even further.
The three stations – GGICO in Al Garhoud, Noor Islamic Bank station in Al Quoz, and the World Trade Center station – help provide access points to the metro for commuters from a range of professions, from construction workers to financial employees.
Sabir Shah, for example, used the GGICO station for the first time this week and said, “I live at Rigga Street and will use the Metro to come to work every day. There is no need for a car, though I work at a car showroom.” Shah is hoping that the Metro will help alleviate the congestion in the area where he works, claiming that he often spent up to an hour looking for parking in the past.
This week’s addition of three more stations brings the current station total to 21, with eight more stations schedule to open in the next few months. While daily ridership is currently at 100,000 passengers, it is expected to reach 145,000 in the near future.
In addition to cutting back on personal vehicles, the Metro is expected to provide a more convenient form of public transportation. The bus service from outside Dubai and into the city has until now been fairly unreliable, with buses departing at irregular times and a low frequency.
In order to make the Metro more efficient, 14 feeder buses have been added to link Metro stations to the neighborhoods around them and will offer service at 15-20 minute intervals.
Hopefully these great public transportation initiatives will lead to a greener, smog-free Dubai.
