Published: June 04, 2009, By Sharmila Dahl, Senior Reporter,www.xpress4me.com
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is believed to be in the final stages of fixing ticket prices for the Dubai Metro. Sources have told XPRESS that the RTA is considering fixing the maximum one-way fare between the Rashidiya and Jebel Ali Metro stations at Dh5.80.
The minimum fare would be Dh1.20, they said.
RTA officials did not confirm these ticket prices, but said they are continuing to work on the fare policy. “This will be announced to the public upon approval from the Ruler of Dubai,” Peyman Younes Parham, Director of Marketing and Communications at RTA, said.
“The fares will be affordable and in line with transportation industry best practices globally,” he added. Sources told XPRESS that there would be two broad categories of cards – personal and anonymous.
While the former would have a validity of five years, the latter would be valid for daily, weekly and monthly periods. The sources said the minimum card that one could buy would be for Dh20, which will include a card fee of Dh6 and a credit of Dh14. T
These cards can be topped up, they said, adding that they can be filled on the internet, mobile phone or at ticket offices. Each station will have three ticket offices and two self-service machines, with paper tickets available for point-to-point travel.
The contactless cards, in keeping with the Automated Unified Smart Card system, will hold good not only on the Metro but also on other modes of public transport like buses and marine transport.
Sources said passengers would have to swipe these cards at the entry and exit ticketing gates at the Metro stations. The same cards would be subject to scanning on the 700 feeder buses that would ferry them to the stations. Inspectors will conduct random checks by reading the smart cards with special devices.
