UAE | Traffic and Transport

Making your Metro life easier

The Journey planner called "Wojhati" is the best way to use the new integrated public transport system including the Dubai Metro starting Wednesday.

  • By Ashfaq Ahmed, Chief Reporter
  • Published: 23:06 September 7, 2009
  • Gulf News

  • Image Credit: Gulf News Archive
  • Commuters can use an online journey planner on a dedicated web-based portal launched by the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

Dubai: The Journey planner called "Wojhati" is the best way to use the new integrated public transport system including the Dubai Metro starting Wednesday.

Commuters can use the online journey planner on a dedicated web-based portal launched by the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). It is an integrated system covering buses, the Metro and water buses.

In depth: Dubai Metro

By using this system online, commuters can know their complete journey plan, mode of transport to reach their destination, fare and even the time required. Through this system, commuters can plan their journey hours and even days before their travel plans.

The system gives real time information along with maps and route plan. It even tells how much you have to walk to the nearest bus stop or station.

Wojhati, which means "my destination" in Arabic, has live public transport schedules online. "Journey planner is a service to make commuters take the decision before they leave their home - to save their time and money," Mohammad Al Hashemi, Director of Planning and Business Development at the RTA's Public Transport Agency, said.

"The aim is to encourage more people to use public transport instead of their cars.

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"With the launching of the Dubai Metro and comprehensive network of public buses, our aim is to increase the current public transport use of 6 per cent to 30 per cent by 2020. We want to attract more people to use mass transport," he said.

The RTA has spent around Dh12 million to develop Wojhati. It features an interactive map to explain the route, bus stops and Metro stations.

Instant Passenger Information System (IPIS) is another programme linked to the journey planner. The IPIS will enable passengers to know the actual journey schedules. This enables passengers to know the exact bus transit time, as well as the status of the next bus; making it easy to know the exact arrival time.

The project comprises three phases and encompasses installation of about 1,200 display monitors at all Dubai Metro stations and bus stops that are part of the Metro station feeder service, as well as other bus stops across the emirate.

Automatic Vehicle Management (AVM) has been introduced to complement Wojhati, as passengers will be able to get the real-time information about the bus arrivals at their nearest bus stops.

The AVM will provide instant tracking of public buses 24 hours a day, and a link-up with buses to ensure their timely arrival.

All the public buses are being fitted with the AVM system, which tells the operation control room the exact location of the buses.

Do you think the maximum charge is fair? What other schemes would encourage you to use Dubai Metro?

Your comments


It is a pitty the metro wont run on Friday's before 2PM. They will lose a lot of customers becuase of this. Hope they see the errors of this and let it operate as normal.
Stiaan
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 08, 2009, 17:30

Dubai Metro It will give the relief from the traffic jam Thanks to RTA
Mydeen
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 08, 2009, 15:54

i found the wojhati to be extremely useful. now,i can go to any place i want in dubai without any confusion. a big thank you to all the people concerned !
Sujatha Raja
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: September 08, 2009, 15:36

Our dream comes true with a few hours. I hope the entire road users, train and water taxi users as well, will reach their destination at scheduled time. No more traffic jams in Dubai! This year we got two celebrations for Ramadan which are Metro inauguration and Eid. Sure, the metro will give another golden feather on the cap Dubai! Best wishes for Dubai Government and rulers.
Abdul Jaleel Pallipparamba
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 08, 2009, 15:17

THE DUBAI METRO WILL BE VERY USEFUL FOR THE ENTIRE RESIDENTS OF DUBAI. THE COSTS, STYLE, ARCHITECTURAL FINISHINGS ARE EXTREMELY STUNNING. THE RESIDENTS NOW HAVE AN EASY ACSESS FOR MALLS, AND OTHER COMMON PLACES IN THE DUBAI. THE RTA HAS MADE DUBAI AS A COSMOPOLITAN CITY AND GLOBALLY REPUTED. THEY SURELY DO NEED TO BE REWARDED WHOLEHEARTEDLY FOR THEIR UNTIRING EFFORTS THEY MADE FOR THE PEOPLE OF DUBAI AND OTHER COUNTRIES. I WOULD EVEN LIKE TO THANK GULF NEWS FOR SHOWING AND HIGHLIGHTING THE DUBAI METRO IN THE NEWSPAPER. THIS JUST SHOWS HOW MUCH WE ARE CARING ABOUT THE COUNTRY WE LIVE IN.
MATHEWS STEPHEN
ras al khaimah,uae
Posted: September 08, 2009, 15:07

We thank the Great Ruler his highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for this great endeavour to let us feel at ease with the biggest problem of conveyance in Dubai. We look forward to see a non- traffic Dubai very soon. May God bless all those behind this great effort.
Mariam Jacob
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 08, 2009, 13:39

Please extend the Metro upto International City
Kaushal Jani
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 08, 2009, 13:23

this is by far one of the greatest achivements in the history of UAE. Really looking forward to this.
Fahad
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 08, 2009, 12:54

THIS REALLY GOOD NEWS AM SO EXCITED TO WHAT TIME AND WHICH STATION WILL BE STARTING,I WANT TO BE THERE. GOOD SHOW DUBAI A BLESSED LAND FOR ALL.
Shamim h. Mohammad
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 08, 2009, 12:48

Whilst the Metro is a great step forward, public transport still has a long way to go in order to reduce the amount of cars on the road. Using Wojhati a trip from Jebel Ali Club to Mall of the Emirates costs Dh 48.00 and takes 94 minutes, including 1.26 Km of walking. it is quicker and cheaper to drive.
Andrew
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: September 08, 2009, 12:30

It is greats for UAE and realy fantastic. Bravo !!!!!
H. Mohammad Karmujiono
Jakarta,Indonesia
Posted: September 08, 2009, 12:21

Just 2 Days.. Yeah, i think fare is competitive.. Cant wait to use the Metro, just purchased my NOL card and I will definitely try it for Rashidiyah to Burjuman center..
Erwin
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 08, 2009, 10:19

I lived here in Dubai along with my family for 32 years and my family is very proud of having METRO in Dubai. It is like dreams comes true. I congratulate the Ruling family and the authorities for providing such a wonderful gift to us. We wish every success in their endevours and acheivements.
Richard Pinto
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 08, 2009, 10:15

Metro would be really useful only when there are special buses from the Metro station to our destination.
Nameeza
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 08, 2009, 09:20

I'd love to use the Dubai Metro and bus system, but the problem are the streets. They are not made to walk. From my building is almost impossible to reach the stations. There are a lot of constructions and no side walks. The authorities should obligate the constructors to provide at least a clean way and provisional side walks to pedestrians.
Viviane Cappellari
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 08, 2009, 09:19

This project is good. The rush of traffic on road will be less when Metro starts in all Emirate of Dubai. I suggest to the all Emirates of UAE they should start this Metro plan. I thanks the rulers to start this Metro.
Mohammad Iqbal
Sharjah,United Arab Emirates
Posted: September 08, 2009, 08:33

Online booking for a Metro ticket is good thing, but what percentage of people are going to use it. Need to have an internet access for this booking. It would have been more easier to book the ticket using sms service, quick and fast. sms your destination and receive a code. enter the code and print your ticket. This will help those people who can not use internet. Over all I will be happy to use the Metro services as it will save a lot of my monthly transport budget and I can visit the Malls avoiding parking tension and it is time saving. I have a request for RTA to please introduce some packages for families. Congratulations for this massive project to RTA.
Mohammad Saif
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 08, 2009, 08:32

I tried using Wojhati, but found it very confusing.
Ankit Behl
Dubai,U.A.E
Posted: September 08, 2009, 07:43

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