(Courtesy - Khaleej Times)
DUBAI - Three 81-seater, double-decker buses were on Friday introduced by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) on the Dubai-Sharjah route.
The buses commence their journeys from Al Ghubaiba (Bur Dubai) bus station and drop passengers at the Al Jubail and Al Rolla bus stations in Sharjah.
According to senior officials of RTA's Public Transport Agency, a total of 70 double-decker buses are expected to run on the Dubai-Sharjah route by the end of this year.
“The buses can accommodate 114 passengers,” the official added. 'In the second phase, double-deckers would be plying on Dubai's internal roads from early next year.”
Abdullah Yousuf Al Ali, Director of Public Bus Department in the Public Transport Agency, told Khaleej Times that talks were on for increasing the fares on Dubai-Sharjah route.
'There is a plan to increase the fare. Right now, the Dubai-Sharjah bus journey costs Dh5,' he said.
The introduction of double-decker buses has brought relief to the commuters.
Shiraj Bhanu, an Indian national who frequently uses the Dubai-Sharjah bus service, said, 'Kudos to the RTA for starting these buses. It was a pleasant surprise for me this morning as I saw one of the buses parked at the Bur Dubai Bus Station. My first trip was terrific,' he said.
Irene, a Filipina, said the new buses were welcome. 'With three buses now and a lot more in line by the year end, the commuters travelling between the two emirates can heave a collective sigh of relief. We hope that there are shorter waits now for these inter-emirate buses. The RTA deserves a pat on their back for this,' she added.
Ajmal Hussain Khan, a Pakistani national, added that the RTA needed to come up with dedicated bus lanes on certain routes.
'Buses are fine, but the journey time needs to reduced. At present, it takes us almost an hour or even more to reach Sharjah. There must be dedicated bus lanes on important routes. Until this is done, the problems will remain,' he said.
Al Ali also said that 'Coach' service between Dubai and Abu Dhabi is expected to start in the next two months. The 35-seater buses would be equipped with toilets.
There are plans to start a bus service on the Dubai-Al Ain route, too, he added.
The buses commence their journeys from Al Ghubaiba (Bur Dubai) bus station and drop passengers at the Al Jubail and Al Rolla bus stations in Sharjah.
According to senior officials of RTA's Public Transport Agency, a total of 70 double-decker buses are expected to run on the Dubai-Sharjah route by the end of this year.
“The buses can accommodate 114 passengers,” the official added. 'In the second phase, double-deckers would be plying on Dubai's internal roads from early next year.”
Abdullah Yousuf Al Ali, Director of Public Bus Department in the Public Transport Agency, told Khaleej Times that talks were on for increasing the fares on Dubai-Sharjah route.
'There is a plan to increase the fare. Right now, the Dubai-Sharjah bus journey costs Dh5,' he said.
The introduction of double-decker buses has brought relief to the commuters.
Shiraj Bhanu, an Indian national who frequently uses the Dubai-Sharjah bus service, said, 'Kudos to the RTA for starting these buses. It was a pleasant surprise for me this morning as I saw one of the buses parked at the Bur Dubai Bus Station. My first trip was terrific,' he said.
Irene, a Filipina, said the new buses were welcome. 'With three buses now and a lot more in line by the year end, the commuters travelling between the two emirates can heave a collective sigh of relief. We hope that there are shorter waits now for these inter-emirate buses. The RTA deserves a pat on their back for this,' she added.
Ajmal Hussain Khan, a Pakistani national, added that the RTA needed to come up with dedicated bus lanes on certain routes.
'Buses are fine, but the journey time needs to reduced. At present, it takes us almost an hour or even more to reach Sharjah. There must be dedicated bus lanes on important routes. Until this is done, the problems will remain,' he said.
Al Ali also said that 'Coach' service between Dubai and Abu Dhabi is expected to start in the next two months. The 35-seater buses would be equipped with toilets.
There are plans to start a bus service on the Dubai-Al Ain route, too, he added.
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