Abras in Bur Dubai get floating pontoons

In order to ensure safe boarding for abra users, floating pontoons have been constructed at the Bur Dubai abra station.

The pontoons were opened yesterday by Dubai Municipality in a ceremony attended by the civic body's top officials.

Obeid Salem Al Shamsi, Assistant Director General for Administrative and General Services Affairs, who inaugurated the station, said the construction started last July 29 and was completed on January 29.

Al Shamsi said the project was undertaken to meet the demands of customers, based on comprehensive quality principles.

It was a much required safety measure that will benefit all users of the water taxis, especially women, children and the elderly.

"All the remaining three abra stations in Deira Old Souq, near Dubai Museum, and Al Sabkha will have the floating pontoons at a later stage," said Al Shamsi, and added that a new category of tourists could also be attracted if the abras are made safer. This will also help in the preservation of this traditional mode of transport.

He said each station will have five berthing points, two for boarding and three for disembarking, in order to avoid rush.

Nearly 150 abras operate in the creek on two routes, from Bur Dubai to Deira Old Souq and from Bur Dubai Souq to Al Sabkha. The fare for a one-way passage is 50 fils.

More than 40,000 people use this service daily on weekdays to commute between the two banks of Dubai Creek. On weekends, this number reaches almost 60,000.

According to the new regulation set by the Public Transport Department, a motor propelled abra can be chartered for Dh50 per hour and a rowing abra for Dh30 per hour.

The department has also printed a brochure with details on the chartered services, which are available at the Tourist Information Offices in the emirate, abra offices and also at Public Transport Bus Stations.

Al Shamsi said two new abra stations, one opposite the Dubai Municipality headquarters in Deira and the other opposite the British Embassy in Bur Dubai, will be made operational by the end of this year.

The Public Transport Depart-ment oversees the operation of abra services, in order to ensure they are preserved as a safe, secure and cost effective mode of traditional transport.

The municipality set up an office at the Bur Dubai abra station in June 1999, to facilitate issuance and renewal of licenses to abras and monitor their operation, The office also receives complaints and suggestions from the passengers and operators.

Suggestions or complaints can also be registered on the toll-free number of the Public Transport Department - 8004848.