By Matovu Abdallah Twaha gulftoday.ae
The Dubai Metro’s Green Line is touted by the transport authorities as one that “easily links most of the government departments.”
“When you arrive at the airport, you can circulate most of the government departments within less than half an hour,” the Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Mattar Al Tayer told the media in his chambers at Umm Ramool, Rashidiya on June 21.
The intra-city line that is due for opening “shortly before Eid next September” spans 23 km from Al Qusais to Al Jadaf. It comprises 16 stations in addition to the transfer stations; Union and Khalid bin Al Waleed Stations, shared with the Red Line.
“I boarded the trial trains last week and it was amazing. The Central Business Districts are covered in minutes,” Al Tayer said.
The 16 stations are: Etisalat Station, situated at Al Qusais near Emirates Road; Al Qusais Station, situated near the building of the Ministry of Education and the General Department of Dubai Civil Defence as well as Al Tawar Centre – a hub for several Government services, and the Airport Free Zone Station, where Terminal 2 and Dubai Airport Free Zone are located.
Other stations are Al Nahda which is adjacent to the building of the Ministry of Public Works and the Union Cooperative Society; Al Ahli Club and Al Qiyadah -both on Al Ittihad Road near the Dubai Police General HQ.
There is Abu Hail Station, close to public schools, commercial centres and businesses; Abu Baker Al Siddique Station, near Al Muraqqabat Police Station among others in Deira area before extending to Oud Metha close to Al Nasr Club and the Dubai Healthcare City.
Al Tayer said he has now turned into a “consultant of sort” in the Gul Cooperation Council (GCC).
“They want to know how we managed to tame traffic congestion in such a short period of time.
“Within two days, I will be off to Kuwait, and I have an invitation for the Sultanate of Oman,” he said. The RTA was established in 2005 and “it was a challenge in the first five years,” Al Tayer remarked.
