'Stations on Green Line are 50-80% complete'

Dubai: Stations and facilities on Dubai Metro's Green Line will soon encourage more commuters to use the Metro when they open in the second half of 2010.

Mattar Al Tayer, chairman of the Board and executive director of the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority, said the completion rate in constructing several stations on the Green Line ranges from 50 to 80 per cent.

He emphasised that the project is on schedule and will start operating in the second half of 2010.

Al Tayer recently inspected the work during a tour of the Green Line stations. He visited Al Qusais depot, the command and control centre, the multi-level park-and-ride facilities, Al Nahda station, Bani Yas station, and Al Ras station.

He set off his tour by inspecting the Metro depot at Al Qusais, where construction work has exceeded 70 per cent. The depot, a garage for maintaining and cleaning Metro carriages, is fitted with air-conditioners and advanced firefighting systems. It comprises a parking area for train carriages and has a capacity to house 60 trains at a time.

Al Tayer inspected the trains systems control centre which is fitted with state-of-the-art technologies enabling full control of both the Red and Green Lines.

Al Tayer reviewed the progress in the multi-level park-and-ride facility which has a capacity to house 2,350 vehicles. The building has been designed to provide ample space for feeder buses, ensure smooth traffic flow and accommodate huge numbers of cars.

Stepping up works

Al Tayer inspected the Al Nahda station — an elevated station that has a capacity of about 11,000 passengers per hour. He toured the station, which is 50 per cent complete, and directed to expedite the completion of electromechanical works and installation of escalators.

He visited the Bani Yas station, one of six underground stations on the Green Line with a capacity to handle about 8,000 passengers per hour. The station is at the advanced stages, exceeding 80 per cent.

Al Tayer then inspected the Al Ras station where construction works exceeded 50 per cent. The station is one of two that feature heritage design illustrating the history of the UAE. Al Tayer expressed his delight with the progress at various locations of the project and commended the efforts of all personnel. However, he called on the contracting company to do more to ensure the opening of all stations on time.

Al Tayer was accompanied by the CEO of Rail Agency Abdul Majeed Al Khaja and several directors and engineers supervising the project.