Mohammad reviews public transport projects in Dubai

Dubai: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, yesterday reviewed the programmes introduced by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to upgrade public transport.

These programmes aim at improving the service of public buses.

The projects reviewed included journey planner initiative known as "Wojhati", automated bus management project, automatic fare collection card (AFC), instant passenger information system, "Sharekni", and Awselni.

Shaikh Mohammad also reviewed drivers training and testing simulator, introduced to enhance efficiency of drivers, as well as payment of parking fees through mobile phone scheme, which will be introduced in May. He also checked the results of applying the flashing green light signal system, which had been introduced at all key intersections in the emirate and contributed to a drastic reduction in the number of fatalities resulting from signal-jumping accidents by 75 per cent in 2008. Shaikh Mohammad asked the RTA to stick to the timetable set for introducing new projects.

Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of RTA, said: "RTA is keen to deliver top-class services to users of mass transit modes and encourage the transition of individuals from using private vehicles in their daily moves to mass transit modes."