Dubai, August 31: Shopkeepers and staff of businesses based around the 10 stations that are opening on the Dubai Metro were looking forward to the launch day.
Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) officials on Sunday named the 10 stations that would open on September 9: Rashidiya, Terminal 3 (Dubai International Airport), City Center, Al Rigga, Union, Khalid bin Al Waleed, Jafliah, Financial Center, Mall of the Emirates, and Nakheel Harbour & Tower.
The remaining stations on the Red Line will be opened in phases over the next few months, said officials.
A clothes retailer located at the Mall of the Emirates said he was glad that the station located at Mall of the Emirates will begin operating as scheduled. “We are happy that the metro will begin operating on schedule because that will bring in even more customers to our store,” said Ayoub, salesman, Diesel.
However, others said the opening of stations would not affect business. “We are waiting for the metro to start operating as that will help bring in more customers to our shop,” said Das, salesman, Dona Jewellery located at the Gold Diamond Park, near the First Gulf Bank Station, which will not open in September.
Das said it was not a problem to delay the opening of the station as the price of gold was extremely high at the moment.
He said people were not expected to purchase until prices begin to decline after six month.
The stations picked to open were decided upon because most were central to business areas or government entities and other public transport connections. The metro is expected to introduce an integrated public transport model that will allow residents to switch from one mode to another.
Ayoub, the Diesel salesman, said he has already made plans to start taking the metro to work as he found commuting from Sharjah to Dubai everyday could become expensive due to the toll fare Salik.
“I might be parking my car at Rashidiya station and go to work on the metro. I hope they open another station at Mulla Plaza – that would make it even easier for me” said Ayoub.
RTA Chairman of the Board and Executive Director Al Tayer said that the fare structure of the mass transport system in Dubai was designed to be affordable.
“The metro fare is among the cheapest worldwide. For instance the fare of the trip from Rashidiya up to Jebel Ali is Dh5.80 only. More than 700 Feeder Buses have been deployed to serve these stations on well planned and coordinated routes.
“These buses will have route numbers beginning with the letter F, and will be visible to all passengers waiting to use them for connetion to the nearest Dubai Metro station.”
–Agencies