By Staff www.emirates247.com
The Dubai Metro is aiming to reach a daily passenger load of 170,000 per day, according to a top RTA Rail official.
The Director of Rail Operation, RTA Rail Agency Ramadan Abdullah, said: “Daily users of the metro currently stand at 140,000 passengers per day, i.e. in excess of 4,020,000 passengers per month. This number is quite important when we take into consideration that the period of the metro operation has yet to complete 15 months, so it says a lot to see all these passengers from all community segments, whether residents or visitors, uptake this mass transit mode; which also reflects the associated benefits that contribute to diffusion of using public transport culture among the public.
“It is anticipated that the number of metro riders will top 170,000 per day by the end of 2010, meanwhile RTA is working closely with the metro operator to cope efficiently with any increase in the number of metro riders through addressing all aspects of safety which ranks high on the RTA priorities.”
“On November 1, the day designated by the RTA as a Public Transport Day offering the public free ride on all public transit modes including the metro, public buses and the water bus for 24 hours, the metro has lifted 206,000 passengers i.e. a 47 per cent rise in the metro ridership. Though the RTA has stipulated that benefiting from this free-ride day is offered to Nol card holders for organisational and statistical purposes, such an increase in the ridership reveals that many people have cared to obtain Nol cards to experiment the use of public transport means including the metro; which is another evidence of the growing culture of using public transport among residents of the Emirate.
Additionally, RTA provides fine services at the stations which are characterised by sizable area and fabulous designs combining modernity and tradition in a convenient and safe setting. Furthermore, the Dubai Metro, with all its stations and facilities, is becoming a point of attraction to tourists and visitors pouring in from all over the world, and is making a substantial addition to the services sector; which plays a crucial role in boosting the tourist profile of the Dubai Emirate.
