Commuters seek shelter from scorching heat

Sharjah: Lack of shelter from the scorching heat at the main Al Rolla, Sharjah, bus station leaves commuters seething with anger.

"It is very hot while waiting for the bus. I have to wait for more than half an hour for the bus to Deira, and I have to suffer a lot because the summer heat is too much," said Ashraf Mohammad, an Indian resident who goes to Dubai every weekend.

There is currently no shelter provided at the Al Rolla bus station, a central point for travel to other emirates, including Ajman and Abu Dhabi.

"Passengers push and shove and jump the queue. I usually feel like I am going to faint because there is no shade," said Mohideen, a resident while wiping his forehead.

"There are no queues, and everybody is restless from the heat. I would be grateful if the municipality could provide us with at least some shade because the heat is very strong for me," he said.

The station caters to passengers wishing to go to Ajman, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi.

"I can only see my relatives during the weekends, so I do not mind standing in the heat. I cannot afford car lift because it is too costly, so if I have to stand in the heat, so be it," said Ali Seddiqi, a Pakistani worker.

"This problem has been going for many months now, but now I find the heat too much," said Evelyn Reyes, a Filpina shopkeeper, who was travelling to Dubai to visit her relatives for the weekend.

"Why is the government not doing anything to help us?"

This is very bad and disappointing. It is high time Sharjah changed its attitude.
Maryam
England,UK
Posted: June 29, 2007, 12:55

I am sure the UAE government will look into this problem very soon, as now, due to toll charges, the number of people using public transport will surely increase.
Yusuf
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: June 29, 2007, 12:13

The municipality says it is making air conditioned bus stops, but still in Al Qusais most bus stands don't have shade and seats to sit and wait, and more often buses don't run according to timetables.
Naresh
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 29, 2007, 10:42

It is very sad to note the plight of these human beings! Everybody cannot afford a car. This problem also exists in Dubai. How many bus stops have shades? Just a handful perhaps. It is a harrowing experience to wait for buses in the sweltering summer heat.
Joseph
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 29, 2007, 09:05

I hope that the Sharjah Municipality takes a lesson or two from Dubai, which has introduced air-conditioned waiting areas for people.
Azhar
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: June 29, 2007, 03:46