RTA meets with Sudanese delegation

The delegation viewed the experience of the RTA in the field of investment and advertising and explored the possibilities of enhancing the exchange of expertise between the RTA and its counterpart in Sudan.

H.E. Mattar Al Tayer briefed the delegation on the experience of the RTA in the fields of investment, ads and development including the external commercial ads, privatization and naming of metro stations.

He stated that there are five types of external commercial ads; Roads Ads; which include flags, lighting poles, ad balloons, ads on bridges & tunnels, benches and unipoles. The second type is the ad on buses which covers buses and bus shelters. RTA currently has a fleet of almost 500 buses scheduled to rise in 2008 to 1200 buses 170 of which are double deck and 300 are articulated buses. Within the framework of its plan to encourage the public to use collective transport systems, RTA started construction of 975 air-conditioned shelters that span over 656 bus parkings in various key locations in the emirate of Dubai. The areas of shelters have been doubled in some stations that witness high density of bus users.

The shelters, whose designs have been modeled after the shape of the moon, are the first of their kind the world over. They are characterized by high quality manufacturing and painting with anti-heat, humidity and dust painting coat. They are comfortable and offer outstanding service to bus commuters, particularly in the summer season which witnesses high temperature levels. Moreover, a number of other services and amenities will also be provided such as ATMs and vending machines of newspapers, light meals and soft drinks. Three recycling units of paper, glass and metals will also be provided in the package, Al Tayer added.

The third type of the commercial ads, the Chairman and CEO of the RTA commented, is vehicle ads. It includes ads on RTA taxis "Dubai Taxi" and franchise companies taxis. It also covers ad display vehicles and commercial vehicles. The fourth type is related to ads on abras the number of which is now 149 abras, and the fifth one is ads on metro lines and stations the number of which is 149 distributed in the Red and Green Lines.

Al Tayer presented to the Sudanese delegation the plan of the RTA in privatization of some non-core services and activities of the RTA; which reflect RTA's intention to reduce the annual operation costs, minimize the project costs, save time & effort, minimize customer complaint, concentrate on core business, and save time & resources. He stated that RTA tasked a number of services to the private sector such as provision of transportation for RTA employees, depots, logistical support, medical insurance, communication center and Information Technology services.

In discussing security and safety aspect of Dubai Metro Project, Al Tayer said, "RTA is adopting the highest security and safety standards in the project so as to ensure protection and safety of metro users in a way that matches the best in Europe and the advanced countries. RTA signed an agreement for assessing the safety in Dubai Metro with Lloyds Register; which is specialized in security, safety and occupational health systems along with inspection of the industrial facilities. The company will conduct assessment, testing and inspection of each stage of constructing, manufacturing, commissioning and maintaining of Dubai Metro Project".

The key assignments of the consultant are focused around the safety of operation systems and the project safety assessment plan starting from the initial project plans, the implementation charts, the engineering designs of various phases and the final design. It also extends to include follow-up of manufacturing, assembly of metro carriages, installation and initial operation tests of metro, operation & maintenance facilities, experimental operation of metro before being opened for public use, supplementing introduction of safety systems in the project and issuing a recommendation of the safety of the rail systems and operations.

He concluded by saying that achieving the highest safety and security standards in Dubai Metro Project will be met through four levels starting from the contractor, the consultant, RTA and Lloyds Co., as an independent safety assessor of Dubai Metro Project.

H.E. Al Fatih Izz Uddin, Mayor of Umdurman praised the pioneer development drive witnessed by Dubai in all fields that made it a destination for several countries to make use of as a model in carrying out their giant development projects and apply sophisticated technologies in all respects. The visiting delegation hailed the presentation made by RTA and the roads and transportation projects underway, which are capable of bringing about a quality shift in the transportation systems in the emirate of Dubai. He added, "The delegation made use of the outstanding experience of the RTA in the field of investment, ads and development; a step which will help in diversifying the sources of income.