Floating pontoons for 'abras' planned

Dubai Municipality will construct new floating pontoons for abras, the small traditional boats used to cross the Dubai Creek, in order to ensure safe boarding and disembarking for users, said AbdulAziz Malik, Director of Public Transport Department at Dubai Municipality.

"At present, many abra users, particularly children, women and the elderly, find it difficult to board the abras from the banks of the creek. The new floating pontoons will help," he said.

Construction of the pontoons, which is initially being undertaken at the Bur Dubai Abra Station on an experimental basis, will begin in April and will take one month to complete.

Following the trial, the remaining three stations in Deira Old Souq, near Dubai Museum, and Al Sabkha will have the floating pontoons, said Malik.

"During the construction period, steps will be taken to minimise the inconvenience to commuters and to avoid any disruption in the service," he added.

At one station, five berth points will be set up, two for boarding the abras and three for disembarking, thereby avoiding any rush. The pontoon also provides for smooth berthing of the abras.

At present, 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. Abras can be chartered for sight-seeing or recreational purposes with the charges being Dh30 per hour for rowing abras and Dh50 per hour for motor-propelled abras.

This service is used by more than 60,000 people daily to commute between the two banks of the Dubai Creek on weekends, and over 40,000 on week days.

Meanwhile, the Abra Services Unit at the Public Transport Department is finalising a project to set up two more abra stations, one opposite the Dubai Municipality headquarters in Deira and the other opposite the British Embassy in Bur Dubai, said Malik.

Designs for the projects are currently being studied and a decision is expected soon.

Dubai Municipality is restoring the heritage of Dubai by maintaining the traditional way of water transport. The Public Transport Department oversees the operation of this service in order to ensure that abras are preserved as a safe, secure and cost effective mode of transport.

In June 1999, an office was set up at the Bur Dubai Abra Station for issuing and renewal of licenses to abras and to monitor their operation.

The office also receives complaints and suggestions from passengers and operators.

Alternatively, people can register their suggestions or complaints by calling the toll-free number of the Public Transport Department at 800-4848.