Abu Dhabi bus tariff announced

Abu Dhabi: Commuters in Abu Dhabi will have to pay for bus rides from February 15, after enjoying free rides for more than seven months, it was announced on Monday.

Initially, it was planned to introduce a fare system at the beginning of January 1, but the period was extended.

Commuters can now buy monthly, daily or single passes; a monthly pass costs Dh40, a daily pass Dh3 and a single trip will cost Dh1, said Saeed Al Hameli, general manager, Bus Office of Abu Dhabi Department of Transport.

Monthly and daily "Ojra" passes, which offer an unlimited number of trips, are already on sale at around 22 outlets, said the official.

As a special incentive, people buying monthly passes are being given an extended validity until March 31. Others who opt to buy single trips will have to pay from February 15. Senior citizens and people with special needs can travel for free, said the official.

Al Hameli earlier said the Department of Transport plans to serve as many as 70,000 to 80,000 commuters a day.

Al Hameli, who says he his family enjoy hassle-free travel on public buses in Abu Dhabi, told a press conference the fare payment structure has been developed after months of study.

"Ojra, or Arabic for fare, has been created with the goal of allowing quick boarding, through any of the bus doors. This is expected to speed up bus movement by 30 per cent."

He added the department believes the cost of Ojra passes and bus tickets are reasonable, and provide best value for money.

"We are hoping this will encourage wider ridership patronage," he said.

Al Hameli said the introduction of Ojra was made possible by the generous support of the Abu Dhabi Government whose goal is to provide modern, safe and affordable public transportation in the emirate.

"Ojra will help passengers save car fuel and maintenance costs, and provide an attractive alternative to driving and the need to find parking. Finally using public transport will reduce congestion on roads, thus lowering pollution levels and creating a cleaner, greener and healthier environment," said Al Hameli.

The Department of Transport, he said, has made arrangements to make Ojra passes available through multiple outlets and branded kiosks, and more outlets will be added to the list in the days to come.

"We aim to make Ojra passes available everywhere."

He urged the media and the public to give their feedback, as the Department of Transport looks on them as partners in shaping the new transport system and raising public awareness on the benefits of using public transport.

Toll free number to call

Bus commuters can dial the toll-free number 800 55555 for inquiries about routes and services as well as to provide feedback. Timetables can be collected from bus stands.

Do you think the new fares are affordable? Will it encourage you to use public transportation? Fill in the form bellow to send your comments.

Nice move, congrates to abu dhabi trasport, i agree with the readers view above regarding the over crowded situations in bus. more buses will definately add more convenience to people. I hope the buses will get an upgrade.
Saifee
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: February 10, 2009, 15:21

Fares are affordable for everyone here. Now, most of the people started using the buses. But the problem is the buses are crowded, especially in the morning and evening time. If they increase the frequency of the buses at 7am to 9am and 5pm to 7pm then it will reduce the number of people in each bus, so people can safely travel.
Mohammad Udhuman
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: February 10, 2009, 14:55

Great relief for those under stress from increase living costs. Thank You.
Rosh
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: February 10, 2009, 14:52

The fares are very affordable and reasonble. All we expect is few more new routes and more frequency of busses. Where can we purchase the monthly pass?
Uma Aylur Krishnan
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: February 10, 2009, 14:51

Mussafah, one of the most populated areas in Abu Dhabi is not having a high frequency of buses. Also, I would like to get the route details of buses to Mussafah from the Shaikh Zayed Mosque area. Can somebody help?
Hussain
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: February 10, 2009, 14:51

It's Simply Superb! It's a highly appreciated job from the authorities. We (people in Al Ain) hope such a movement will come to Al Ain soon.
Jayaprakash
Al Ain,UAE
Posted: February 10, 2009, 14:46

Fares are really affordable. Please add more buses, which would be convenient for all passengers with a departure every 10 minutes. Thanks and all the best to Abu Dhabi Transport.
Bobking
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: February 10, 2009, 14:41

Bus fare for single commuters is ok, but family with children is a question mark. What is the fare for children and upto what age? Any exemption? The frequency of buses should be increased to avoid crowding and congestion.
Mohammad Azhar
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: February 10, 2009, 14:26

This is yet another great achievement from the Abu Dhabi authorities. However, would appreciate it if there was a service to Khalifa "A" City, as it is becoming a full-fledged town and a beautiful facade for the greater Abu Dhabi.
Q. Luqman
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: February 10, 2009, 14:20

This bus service has really made my life easier. I am a regular bus rider since it started, otherwise I would have to stand for a taxi for hours. The fare is affordable but the number of buses should increase. The driver should be strict about the ladies passage and that no men should be allowed to stand in that passage and also they should be restricted to take few standing passengers. I think if the duration of gap is decreased and the number of buses increases this problem will be solved.
Priya Ghai
Mumbai,India
Posted: February 10, 2009, 13:53

First of all, we thank you for this good service; we have been using public transportation for the past few months. It will be very useful for passengers and everyone in this country. However, we would like to suggest to the authorities for adding more buses from Abu Dhabi Mall to Meena, because so many employees are working in that area. It will be more convenient for the people
Saidalavi
Abu Dhabi,uae
Posted: February 10, 2009, 13:43

I disagree with Claude, driver should not restrict people of standing unless number of buses increase. Otherwise, people will be irritated waiting for the bus. The number of buses should increase first, then the driver can restrict.
Habib Rahman
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 10, 2009, 13:16

The trasnport department is doing a great job. However, what I think is that there should be some way to make people aware of the routes they are operating and the numbers, as I think a lot of people wont know which bus to catch to go to a certain place. I agree that the buses are crowded and there is a need for more buses.
Shazneen
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: February 10, 2009, 12:58

I agree with what Alex Sioson had said regarding the validity of the Dh40 Ojra pass. There should be no validity or expiry dates to accommodate non-regular bus passengers who want to buy it. Definitely, buying the Dh40 Ojra pass is convenient for regular passengers like me. Maybe the authorities could entice passengers to buy the Dh40 Ojra pass by offering one or two free rides.
Tisha
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: February 10, 2009, 12:38

We thank the government for providing bus services for the residents of Abu Dhabi. I suggest that more routes and buses should be introduced.
Martin
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: February 10, 2009, 09:48

Well, the ticket rates are simply superb and in reach of a common man's pocket. Travelling in the bus will reduce the traffic as well. Abu Dhabi Department of Transport has done a marvelous job. The seven months' free rides was amazing. Keep it up!
Shahnawaz Pathan
Mumbai,India
Posted: February 10, 2009, 09:47

I am a regular user of taxi from my home to work. I would like to request the transport authority to increase serivices in Abu Dhabi and outer areas as it will be welcome by passengers.
Syed Abu Taher
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: February 10, 2009, 09:44

The new bus fares introduced by the Government are reasonable and affordable for every one in this country. The problems I have found with the current buses are over crowding and not enough seats available for a comfortable travel. Whenever the bus jerks becaue of brakes being applied by the driver or starting from a halt, the passengers hit each other which creates unnecessary arguments. Also, it is not a healthy way to stand very close to other passengers and inhale their breath which may spread diseases easily. Also, asafe journey is not possible for aged people, children, women, and sick people to stand without holding anything in the bus. Hence, I request the transport department to introduce many new buses with more seats or to equip the current buses with more seats for a comfortable and safe journey of the commuters.
J.S. David
Abu Dhabi,U.A.E.
Posted: February 10, 2009, 09:42

I think that the bus fare is reasonable for low-to-average salary earners like me. But I hope that they could do something about the validity of the Dh40 monthly pass. Because for a commuter like me who doesn't travel by bus more often but does want the convenience of having a ready-pass any time (maybe for a period of 6 months) would probably appreciate such service... I hope you could provide further extension on the pass validity... Thanks and More Power!!!
Alex Sioson
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: February 10, 2009, 09:42

Excellent. This system should have been introduced a long time ago. Long awaited. Keep it up!
Govindrajan
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: February 10, 2009, 09:35

Hats off to the transport department for their excellent service.There is no bus service in the Najda street connecting Bus Station which became one of the busiest roads in Abu Dhabi after closing Salam street. I hope the department will solve this problem very soon.
Jeyashree
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: February 10, 2009, 09:32

Yes , I agree with Claude, the buses are very congested. There should be more buses and there should be a bus after every 10 minutes. Still we are not comfort to travel in the bus with our family because of so much rush. Any how I wish all the best to the Abu Dhabi Department of Transport. They are doing a great job.
Aqeel
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: February 10, 2009, 09:27

Now that the buses are plying on most of the important city routes. Still the traffic situation has not improved in Abu Dhabi. The authorities should introduce heavy parking charges in order to force people to use bus services.
Manish Garg
Abu Dbahi,UAE
Posted: February 10, 2009, 09:26

I've been a regular bus-rider since last year and I can say that it's been helpful to those people who work, like I do, along Al Muroor and Airport Road. The bus fare is way, way more affordable than taxis (taxi fare from Hamdan to Al Muroor would cost around Dh6-9). The only problem, sometimes, is that the bus is so congested that even the ladies area is occupied by men. Trips of Bus Number 54 should be increased. Likewise, I?d like to say thank you to the driver of Bus No. 54 who picks-up passengers in Hamdan (Opposite Arab Tower bus stop) for being polite to all passengers and for doing a good job.
Tisha
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: February 10, 2009, 09:25

It depends on the timing of the bus service. It is good the system will work due to low cost of ticket. But still I feel that evenly 15 minutes there should be a bus.
Mohammad Farooque
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: February 10, 2009, 09:21

The bus transport system is really very good. But about the timings if they start little early say at about 6 o'clock more people can use it.
Diana
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: February 10, 2009, 09:12

Excellent service. It would be better if more buses are plying the parallel and perpendicular routes of Hamdan, Electra, Passport and Defence Roads.
Sanjay Nair
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: February 10, 2009, 09:08

The daily ticket and monthly passes to travel is very affordable and I would also request to have more spacious buses instead of thesmall size as it would be more convenient.
Zaka Mohammad Khan
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: February 10, 2009, 09:07

A great move by the Abu Dhabi Transport Department, they have made our lives easy and comfortable. The fares are very affordable and reasonble. All we expect is few more new routes and more frequency of busses. Great going. Hats off to Abu Dhabi. Thanks a Ton
Ammar Fahad
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: February 10, 2009, 09:06

An excellent move by the Department. Need to add-on buses in major routes. This will reduce the rush and time consumed for pickup and drop off at parkings. Now a trip from Muroor to Abu Dhabi Mall takes above 60 minutes. Hope to see frequent buses to reduce the time of travel.
Umesh Kumar
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: February 10, 2009, 09:06

Hats off to the initiatives launched by the Abu Dhabi government for the residents. The bus fare is affordable for the common man? this will definitely be fruitful. I hope there won?t be any periodical hikes in the fares.
Ciju Kurian
AbU Dhabi,UAE
Posted: February 10, 2009, 07:29

I feel that this is an excellent mode of transport, which is affordable and comfortable for every one in the city. I don't bring my car to the city from my site at the oil field in Bu Hasa, because I can reach any shopping area with my family within my short visit to the city.
Rajesh C
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: February 10, 2009, 07:22

It?s really affordable and helpful for all of us.
Satish
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: February 10, 2009, 07:21

The bus fares are fine for single travellers and regular travellers. For Families, it is still a decision factor to travel in a bus or not. Nowhere in the news was it mentioned about children. What about them?
Rama Krishna
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: February 10, 2009, 07:13

Abu Dhabi Department of Transport is doing a very good job. New fare system definitely works and is very helpful for the public. Thanks.
Mohammad Yasin
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: February 10, 2009, 06:43

The efforts made by the public transport authority is highly appreciable. Keep it up.
Mannath Muralee dharan
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: February 10, 2009, 06:01

Bus fare is Ok. Need to arrange for new bus route to Khalifa City A. Thanks.
Gayan
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: February 10, 2009, 02:18

Fares are very affordable of course more and more people will use it. But the major problem we face is that the driver takes in many standing passengers, and it gets very congested and we are not able get off comfortably. The driver should be instructed just to take 20 standing passengers and the number of busses should increase and there should be a bus every 10 minutes. This will be very nice for people to use and more and more people will use buses. I wish all the best to the Abu Dhabi Department of Transport.
Claude
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: February 10, 2009, 01:54