Dubai: A unified platform that brings control of different modes of transport under one umbrella began operations on Monday, ushering in a new phase of smart transportation systems in Dubai.
His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, inaugurated the Enterprise Command and Control Centre, which has been branded EC3.
Built at a cost of Dh335 million, the centre will cater to the needs of hosting Expo 2020.
According to the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) which will operate the centre, EC3 will prop up its efforts in transforming Dubai into the smartest city worldwide in the field of transport.
The centre will help ease traffic congestions, reduce transit time and cost, fend off traffic accidents, and curb environmental pollution through adopting smart planning in addressing transport challenges of the Emirate.
The opening ceremony was attended by RTA’s Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General of Dubai Protocol and Hospitality Department, Khalifa Saeed Sulaiman, and the Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, Major General Abdullah Khalifa Al Merri.
First of its kind in the Middle East, the centre will help in controlling, integrating and coordinating various transit modes besides undertaking planning of various mobility challenges for RTA.
Announcing the launch of EC3 last year, Al Tayer had said: “The EC3 will act as a unified platform linking various control centres of RTA’s operational agencies such as Dubai Metro, Dubai Tram, public transport, taxis, and Traffic Systems Control Centres with an integrated central control unit.”
The centre features unique design and covers an area of 6,996 square metres, and consists of a ground floor and five stories with a total floor area of 10,900 square metres.
The central control room covers an area of 430 square meters and rises 13 metres in height.
The facilities comprise office spaces, auditorium, press centre and four utility buildings, conform to green building codes.
— With inputs from WAM
