Al Ain: Traffic congestion in private school zones in Al Ain is expected to decrease from Sunday thanks to a pilot project intended to reduce traffic jams near schools, authorities announced yesterday.

More than 18 private schools with 22,000 students are participating in the pilot plan by the Al Ain Municipality, in cooperation with the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council, Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec) and the Transport Department.

Based on the scheme, which will run for a month, schools will begin their school hours at time intervals of at least 15 to 30 minutes.

The first group of schools will begin the school day at 7.30am.