Tag: rta dubai

On Monday, The Gulf Today readers were given a lowdown on the various milestones achieved by Sharjah Transport Corporation in 2012. Today, we look at the initiatives, developments and key activities undertaken in the same period by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) of Dubai:

The flurry of emergency vehicles around Rashidiya Metro station last weekend was part of a disaster-preparation drill organised by the emirate’s Crisis Management Team (CMT). The exercise followed a workshop two days earlier to exchange ideas and experiences between the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai Police, Civil Defence, Dubai Municipality, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority and Dubai Ambulance Services.

The number of commuters using the Red Line since launched on 9/9/2009 till the end of September 2012 hit 170,621,483 passengers. The ridership is continuously on the rise; jumping from 1.8 million passengers in October 2009 to 3.3 million passengers in August 2010 and went further to hit 6.5 million passengers in November this year.

The man who killed himself by jumping in front of the Dubai Metro last week has been identified as a cashier and delivery person at a convenience store. Harish Pujari Mahabla, 36, from Mangalore, India, worked for the Ginny’s Plus Trading group in Tecom for the past two years before he died in an apparent suicide last Monday.

A 36-year-old Indian in an inebriated state committed suicide in Dubai Metro, in a first such case, throwing himself under a train after being refused by his employer from returning home. "On Monday the Indian worker, who has been identified as HUM committed suicide on the track," said major general Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina, deputy chief of Dubai police. "The speeding metro struck the man while he was lying on the track."

With more than 3,000 CCTV cameras, a dedicated round the clock police force and a set of heavy penalties, the Dubai Metro is one of the safest in the world. Fines range from Dh100 to Dh2,000, depending on the nature of the violation, with using emergency buttons and exits attracting the highest penalties.

Dubai Metro services are now back to normal operations after this morning’s disruption. The RTA said on Twitter: “Dubai Metro service is back to normal. Thank you for taking the time to communicate with RTA.” An earlier, more detailed message on the service restriction, read: “We thank you for your feedback and we apologise to Dubai Metro commuters for any inconvenience caused.

Commuters faced a travel headache this morning with disruptions on Dubai Metro services. The problem is currently ongoing with RTA announcing in a statement on their Twitter page: “We’re currently working on fixing the problem. Please call on 800 90 90 for more information.”

Dubai Metro video November 2012

A minibus owner could face an year in jail and a fine for failing to report his friend to police after the latter mowed down a man while driving his vehicle last month. The minibus owner, A.M, 52, an Indian national, has been charged with failing to inform the traffic police when his friend, A.H, 27, a Pakistani national, fatally knocked down a 24-year-old Emirati man on Dubai-Al Ain Road, said senior chief prosecutor Salah Bu Farousha, head of Dubai Traffic Public Prosecution (TPP).