By Shweta Jain  gulfnews.com
The launch of the second line of the Dubai Metro – the Green Line, has been delayed yet again. The line, which was originally slated to open in April 2010 and then postponed to August 2011, will now be operational in the last quarter of this year, according to the top executive of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
“The Green Line will be operational at the end of the last quarter of 2011. It is under construction now,” Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of RTA, told Gulf News.
When asked if this would be the line connecting the two Dubai airports – Dubai International and Al Maktoum International, he said: “We have not yet decided which line will be connecting the two airports. However, there will be no one line connecting the two. It will take time.”
With the opening of the Green Line, Al Tayer said he expects the current daily passenger load of “170,000 to double”.
The Green Line, once completed, will run through heavily populated areas such as Bur Dubai and Deira and is scheduled to have 18 stations alongh an approximately 23 km stretch – with six underground stops.
Further commenting on the UAE’s first railway network, Al Tayer said the first phase is due to start in June.
“I hope that the UAE’s first railway network including freight rail and passenger rail will be fully operational by 2017.
“In June we will be starting the first phase of the UAE rail network between Habshan and Ruwais.
“It will be connected within the emirates as well as connect the UAE to Oman and Saudi Arabia,” he said.
