Abu Dhabi: Passengers complain that a bus ride to and from Mussaffah is a daily torture because of a lack of air-conditioning.
None of the buses on the Mussaffah route have air- conditioning, they complain.
T.K. Sekar, a regular commuter on this route, said the situation has been like this for the past few months. "We have to open the windows to let in hot air to try and keep cool," he said.
Dripping with sweat
Ahmad Rasheed, another passenger who was dripping with sweat, said, "By the time we reach our destination, we are exhausted. It is a very tiring ride."
The Abu Dhabi Municipality owns a fleet of around 275 buses, but for over a year it has faced decreasing number of commuters and loss of revenue. The problem has been exacerbated because of lack of maintenance after the municipality garage shut down.
When the government invited tenders from private operators, passengers said they had hoped for a more comfortable ride.
They said they at times they have to wait for more than an hour for a bus, and many of the areas in the cities are not covered by the services.
M.J. Elwan, another passenger said a better public transport system is needed for Abu Dhabi as it will help reduce the number of cars currently plying the roads.
Another resident expressed hope that privatising of the bus services will provide better service for bus passengers and accountability to ensure rights of the passengers are protected and that they get their money's worth.
Transport: New fleet of buses by end of year
A new fleet of public buses managed by private companies will take to the road by the end of this year, an official said.
The Programme Management Office of Abu Dhabi Government Restructuring Committee announced the project in April. Private companies were invited to run modern public transport services.
The committee has already shortlisted 17 companies to compete for contracts to operate service. "The project is part of efforts to improve the standards, safety and efficiency of Abu Dhabi's public transport sector and provide a better quality of life to residents and visitors," said a spokesperson for the committee in a statement.
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