by Matt Warnock
Source: www.constructionweekonline.com
The Dubai Metro faces more delays with work on the Green Line – its second line – running six months behind schedule, according to the Roads & Transport Authority’s (RTA) chief executive officer Abdul Majid al-Khaja.
Last month, RTA chairman Mattar al-Tayer stated that the 34-km Green Line would be launched in June, already three months behind schedule.
“We are currently discussing with the contractor…chances are that it will be opened by the end of 2010 based on contractors’ requirements,” al-Khaja said this week, later explaining that this was due to the fact the contractor was “unable to complete the work due to changes and an extension in the length of the line”.
The Green Line was originally set to run 17km through Bur Dubai and Deira, but this was later increased by 7km to link Dubai Healthcare City with Al Jaddaf. A further extension plan could see the Green Line reach as far as International City.
And, with only 10 of the 29 Red Line stations having been ready in time for the Metro launch on September 9, the remaining stations were due for a February opening; al-Khaja conceded that this deadline too was unlikely to be met.
Some will open by February although the full line will not be operational until May.
The Purple Line – running 49kms between Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport – is also likely to be affected by the same issues facing the Green Line, said the RTA CEO.
“We have done some studies in the past, but after the global crisis, everything changed. Now we have to revisit our evaluation; we have to revisit the location of our stations; how far… it is still in a study stage,” he told Emirates Business.
The design for the Purple Line is believed to have been completed earlier this year, while companies will be invited to bid for the EPC contract from Q4 2009.
