Author : Shuchita Bist
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Sultan Abdulla Al Marzouqi, Marketing Officer and Saeed Al Hameli, GM - Bus Office, Department of Transport at the new air-conditioned bus shelters |
The Abu Dhabi Department of Transport (DoT) has announced the completion of the first 20 air-conditioned bus shelters in the emirate. Open to the public from today, the new shelters are the first in phase one that will deliver 80 by the end of September, with 550 shelters operational across the emirate by 2011. Manufacturing of the first air-conditioned shelters began in April 2009, with installation work starting in early June. The completed shelters serve 9 routes around the city and are predominantly located in Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed al Maktoum Street, Old Airport Road, Al Dhafra Base, Hadbat Al Zafaran, Al Reehan and Zayed Sport City.
Saeed Al Hameli, GM - Bus Office, DoT, said, "We aim to make public transport the first choice for travel in the emirate and today's opening of the first air-conditioned bus shelters marks a significant step forward. We believe this will not only increase current passenger satisfaction, but also persuade more people to consider taking the bus. The bus shelters also represent an important step to implement the vision of HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the accomplishment of Plan Abu Dhabi 2030."
The installation of the bus shelters is part of the implementation of the Surface Transport Master Plan (STMP), which has been developed to support Abu Dhabi's environmental, economic and cultural goals as outlined in Plan Abu Dhabi 2030. The STMP aims to encourage residents and visitors to use public transportation by providing a world-class sustainable and safe transport infrastructure that links Abu Dhabi to Dubai, the northern emirates and regional countries.
Source : Press Release
