Passengers claim Sharjah taxi drivers overcharging

By Mariam M. Al Serkal, Staff Reporter (Gulf News) Published: December 26, 2008, 23:39
Sharjah: New taxi fares are causing dismay among passengers, some of whom claim taxi drivers are overcharging them.
Sriram Subramanian, a Sharjah resident, said his fare for travelling to Dubai was charged twice, on several occasions last week.
"My family and I went to Dubai Mall from Sharjah and the fare started from Dh20. When we arrived at our destination the fare was Dh71.25. When the taxi stopped and while I was taking out my wallet, the meter jumped to Dh91," he said.
The new taxi charge - requiring drivers to start their meters at Dh20 for all trips from Sharjah to Dubai - was imposed as of December 1.
Subramanian was shocked at the additional charge at the end of his trip, and after a long quarrel the taxi driver agreed to take Dh71 and Dh10 for Salik. However, the minimum taxi fare within Sharjah remains that same at Dh2.50 during the day and Dh3.30 at night.
Overcharged again
The second occasion where Subramanian was overcharged was while commuting through Sharjah. "When the car stopped, the meter was showing Dh5.75 and suddenly it jumped to Dh6.50. After discussing it, the driver finally accepted Dh6," he said.
Subramian's claims were unable to be verified by the concerned authorities as he did not note down the franchise's name or the taxi's serial number.
There are currently five franchise taxi companies regulated by Sharjah Transport Authority that include Advantage Taxi, Union Taxi, City Taxi, Emirates Taxi and Sharjah Taxi.
An official at City Taxi explained that if passengers do not note down the taxi number, they are still able to file a complaint by visiting the head office.
"This incident sounds impossible. But if the passenger has such a complaint, it is important to sort it out face-to-face with the complaint section. All companies have a trip sheet that documents the drivers' trips, and from that we will be able to see which driver is at fault and why it happened," said Mohammad Rostum Hassan, supervisor at City Taxi.
He added that if passengers have the taxi details, then the matter can be quickly resolved over the telephone.

Sharjah Water Festival Begins

Dhanusha Gokulan (Khaleej Times) 3 December 2008
SHARJAH - The spirit of nationalism was in full view as the Sharjah Water Festival 2008 kicked off in Al Majaz Park on Tuesday with children and adults wearing dresses in colours of the national flag and waving small flags enjoyed the activities.
The festival was inaugurated by Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasmi, Chairman of the Sharjah Department of Commerce and Tourism Authority in the presence of Mohammed Ali Al Nounan, Director-General of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism and other dignitaries.
Speaking to Khaleej Times, Sultan bin Ahmed said the fact that beginning of this year’s festival coincided with the UAE National Day would give an added boost to tourism in Sharjah.
He highlighted the significance of the mascot of the water festival, ‘Mouj’ which means wave. Mouj was created to instil the importance of water conservation in children, he said.
“Mouj is both an entertaining as well as an educative figure. Children love characters and cartoon images, so we tried to instil the importance of water conservation in kids through Mouj.”
Over a hundred families were seen waving the national flag and enjoying the various activities being held at Majaz Park and the Khalid Lagoon.
This reporter caught up with Rabeea Al Zaabi, an Emirati woman, and her children when they were checking out the stilt walkers who were entertaining the crowd. “Today is an important day and I have made tailor-made clothes in colours of the national flag for my children so that they understand and develop a sense of nationalism and pride in being a UAE national,” said Rabeea.
Abdul Nasser, an Egyptian, said, “It is colourful and entertaining here. I think it is a perfect way to spend the holidays with the family. The good weather and manageable crowd add to the pleasure of being in this place.” The crowd cheered performers of traditional dances and acrobatics. The festival is set to continue till December 13.

Sharjah Residents Brace For More Traffic Chaos on City Streets

By Sunita Menon, Staff Reporter (Gulf News) Published: August 10, 2008, 23:49
Sharjah: Part of the city's key arterial highway will remain closed from Friday for at least two years as it gets ready for the second phase of an improved road network project in the emirate.
A senior official from the Public Works Department said Al Wahda Street will remain closed from Yarmouk area to the junction of King Faisal Street.
AlternativesFor commuters from and to Dubai, three alternative routes have been put in place. Alternative roads, diversions and the detours have been already put in place by the department in cooperation with Sharjah Police. A senior official from the department said in some cases the alternative roads could take longer time "but will be devoid of any congestion".

"In every road diversion the detours and alternative routes are chalked out keeping in mind the people residing in and around the project area," he said. Completion of this project will see traffic lights installed at the Yarmook crossroads, a double bridge measuring 175 metres at Cultural Square leading to Airport Road, the Abu Shagara crossroads will get traffic lights, there will be a tunnel measuring 535 metres leading to King Abdul Aziz Street, and another double bridge measuring 1.7km that will start from the Yarmook crossroads leading to Al Wahda Road. A senior official from the public works department in Sharjah said a massive awareness campaign detailing the various alternative routes and detours will be launched very soon.
"Motorists and residents need not be distressed by the closure of Al Wahda Street as we have opened diversions supported by the proper traffic management. "We want road users to be cooperative and follow the traffic signals that are being installed to make their life easier," said the official source. In reply to a query as to whether taking these detours and alternatives will result in a longer driving time, the official source said: "In some cases it might be longer, but it will be devoid of any congestion. In every road project the detours and alternative routes are marked, keeping in mind people residing in and around the project area."

When asked if it was the right time to close Al Wahda Street with schools set to re-open and Ramadan around the corner, the official source said: "This project is not a two-month project but a two-year project. It has to be started on time to finish on time." Gulf News spoke to some residents who live on Al Wahda Street and King Faisal Street. Qasim Ansari, a Pakistani who lives near the Mothercat roundabout, said: "It is going to be one big nightmare coming back from work from Dubai to where I live."

Time-consuming
Shalini Govind, an Indian who lives on King Faisal Street, said: "I work in Dubai and it takes me over an hour and a half to reach my home from Al Mulla Plaza to the building where I live on King Faisal Street, but now with the road closure it is going be more time-consuming. I just hope that the alternative routes that are been laid out are congestion-free with traffic signals," she said.
Mohammad Sami, an Egyptian who lives on Al Wahda Street, said: "As long as they have traffic police manning the detours and alternatives I don't have a problem. I also want the authorities to provide us with clear directions as to where the detours and alternative routes are being created."

Some roads in Sharjah closed for two days due to construction work

Staff ReportPublished: July 30, 2008, 16:11 (Gulf News)
Sharjah: Certain roads in Sharjah will be closed to traffic from Friday, August 1 to Saturday, August 2, due to road works. Motorists going towards Government Roundabout on Al Ittihad Road should go behind the Divan Al Ameeri and people going towards Government Roundabout from Independence Roundabout should go behind the municipality building. Motorists going from Al Zahara Hospital to Independence Roundabout should take the Shaikh Saqr Bin Khalid Al Qasimi Road.
Courtesy - Gulf News

Sharjah - New Taxis

Sharjah all set to launch 53 new taxis
By Sunita Menon, Staff ReporterPublished: July 28, 2008, 16:44 (Gulf News Report)
Dubai: A fleet of 53 new orange-and-blue coloured public taxis will roll out from Sharjah taxi stand at 6pm on Monday. This is the first batch of a total of 800 taxis that will be launched in the emirate by the Sharjah Public Transport Corporation (SPTC). The new public taxis will be metered and fares will start from Dh2:50 during day time while it will set at Dh3 after 10pm. SPTC is also responsible for operating four franchise taxi companies that ply more than 4,000 taxis, which include Advantage Taxi, Union Taxi, City Taxi and Emirates Taxi. "All our taxi drivers are trained. As of now there are no female taxi drivers in the city, but there a few female taxi drivers from the Sharjah airport," said a SPTC official. The new service is expected to fill in the high demand of taxis in the emirate.
For complaints and suggestions, passengers can call: 700067000, said the official.
(Courtesy - Gulf News)

Sharjah Aquarium - Extended Opening Hours

Sharjah aquarium to extend opening hours from August 1
Staff ReportPublished: July 28, 2008, 14:57 (Gulf News Report)
Dubai: The Sharjah Museums Department has extended its opening hours and included a dedicated day for families at the new aquarium situated in the Al Khan district of Sharjah. The extended opening hours will take effect from August 1, 2008. Ann Irish, Operations Manager, said: "By popular request we are more than happy to open for additional hours, and to cater for specific needs, such as a family-only day. I look forward to welcoming all visitors to the aquarium, and also to the Maritime Museum when it opens later in the year." The new hours are: Wednesday4pm – 7.30pm (for families only) Thursday9am – 7.30pm Friday3pm – 8.00pm Saturday 9am – 8.00pm
Parking is available with designated spaces for visitors with disabilities. Wheelchair access and bathroom facilities for visitors with disabilities are also available, as are lifts. Guided tours are provided free of charge by museum guides. Group and school bookings can be arranged on request. For more information visit:http://www.sharjahmusueums.ae/ or phone 06-5285288

(Courtesy - Gulf News)