DUBAI – It’s not just the gold-plated shells adorning concrete stretches of the Dubai Metro line that will grab residents’ attention.
The sleek stations will also fascinate commuters with its state-of-the-art facilities. A mixture of modernisation and tradition, as the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) officials term them, the Metro stations have been constructed based on four elements — earth, water, fire and air — and suits the hot and humid weather conditions of the UAE.
Of the 47 stations along the Red and the Green Line, 10 are underground and the rest are elevated.
There will be 12 earth-themed stations, 13 water-themed stations, 11 air-themed stations and 11 fire-themed stations. The exterior of the elevated stations has a unique shell-shaped roof, reflecting the heritage of pearl diving , an important part of Dubai’s history.
All the stations on the elevated section of the Red Line are being built within a curved steel-framed enclosure.
Nearly 25,000 tonnes of steel has been used for the steelwork of the stations. Most of it is being fabricated in Malaysia and Singapore and over 3,000 tonnes have already been fabricated, with nearly 1,500 tonnes delivered to Dubai, said Adnan Al Hammadi, the Director of the Construction Department of the Dubai Metro.
Earlier, RTA officials had said that the stations were designed to ensure public safety and security.
Commuters of all classes will have every kind of benefits at the stations which are equipped with special benefits for people with special needs.
Officials said that they had adapted international standards to ensure that people with special needs can move around freely in the stations. A barrier-free disabled access has been provided at all the stations.
Lifts, high visibility signage, visual and audio announcements, gates and the automated fare collection system are other highlights of the metro stations. All stations and trains will have wi-fi internet facility.
Station entrances at the ground level will be integrated with other transport modes and connectivity for pedestrians. — joy@khaleejtimes.ae
