By Lily B. Libo-on www.khaleejtimes.com
DUBAI – Smooth traffic movement is expected in and around The Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa during the Eid Al Adha holidays this time with new traffic control measures being taken by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) from today when residents and tourists go out and shop for the festival.
In a press briefing, Hussain Mohammed Al Banna, Director of the Traffic Department, Traffic and Roads Agency, said the authority will provide special services to resolve traffic congestion as experienced in the past Eid celebrations by separating entry and exit points at Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall area. “We have improved the operational efficiency of the (metro) station by installing four additional gates and modified two gates to ease passenger flow and avoid congestion during these holidays,” he said.
Previously, taxis used to exit to Financial Centre Road, but this Eid, they will exit to Al Khail Road, thus reducing congestion on the main roads.
The RTA has also revised the frequency of the metro feeder bus service (F13) to four minutes during peak hours, changed bus pick-up and drop-off points, increased the number of buses from five standard type to ten articulated buses to raise the passenger capacity by 60 per cent per bus, and realigned the schedules of the metro trains and feeder bus services.
Rail Agency CEO Adnan Al Hammadi said over 500 taxis will also be deployed every peak hour, and 300 limousine cars made available to beef up the taxi fleet along with the preparation of a parking area for taxi and limousine cars outside the Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa area.
“We have coordinated with Emaar Properties to provide an alternative parking area along the 312 Road in front of Novotel Hotel behind the World Trade Centre just in case all parking areas in The Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa area are full,” Banna said. More info
