Work on Dubai Metro 'progressing smoothly'

Dubai: Construction of the three major underground metro stations and main depot is progressing fast while the first pillar for the Dubai Metro will be built at the end of this month, said a senior official.

"The work on Dubai Metro is on schedule and is being carried out with minimum disturbance to traffic and residents," said Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director after inspecting various construction sites, including the Rashidiya Depot, Shaikh Zayed Road, BurJuman, Al Rigga and Port Saeed.

He said the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) was using sound barriers in residential areas to minimise disturbances.

Al Tayer said the BurJuman station, which will be completed by 2008, will be 126 metres long, 102 metres wide and 20 metres below ground.

It will accommodate 19,000 passengers an hour and have four main entrances. It will be one of two stations where the Red Line will cross the Green Line. The station for the Green Line at BurJuman will handle 13,000 passengers an hour.

Traffic diversions at the intersection will be in place beginning next month.

During his visit to Port Saeed underground station, Al Tayer said the station would be 121 metres long, 24 metres wide and 20 metres below ground.

Progress: First pillar for track to be built soon

The first tier of the Dubai Metro will be constructed on June 29 between the 6th and 7th Interchanges on Shaikh Zayed Road.

Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), visited the site where the first tier will be built.

"We call the pillar a tier that supports bridges used for the elevated train track," said an RTA engineer.

Some 1,225 tiers will be built along the Red Line from Jebel Ali to Rashidiya. The construction of tiers is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2007.