Major companies in Dubai can now lease modern buses from the Dubai RTA
Dubai: Major companies in Dubai can now lease modern buses from the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority to transport their staff, said a senior official
"We are in the process of signing some big transport service agreements with some leading companies in Dubai as we have started public bus leasing services to provide tailor-made transport solutions for employees of big companies," said Eisa Abdul Rahman Al Dossary, Chief Executive Officer of the RTA’s Public Transport Agency.
He was addressing a press conference Wednesday to announce the signing of an agreement to provide 68 public buses to the Emirates Group to transport its employees between their homes and offices. The Emirates Group will pay Dh100 million for the three-year bus leasing contract.
"The move comes as part of the new drive adopted by the RTA to maximise revenue resources and provide tailor-made transport solutions to companies in a bid to reduce their costs and help ease traffic congestion," said Al Dossary.
He said the agreement will take effect from June. Some 68 dedicated modern public buses will exclusively start providing transport service to employees of the Emirates Group shuttling on 109 routes across the city. The dedicated buses will be distinguished with both the RTA and the Emirates airline logos on them.
"This type of agreement has a direct bearing on maintaining passenger safety, minimising road congestion and reducing environmental pollution resulting from massive numbers of private cars on roads," added Al Dossary
Adil Al Mulla, Vice-president Procurement And Logistics, Emirates Group, who signed the agreement, said more than 15,000 employees would benefit from the new service.
We will save money by signing this agreement, added Al Mullah. Earlier, private companies were providing the transport services to the Emirates Group employees.
Responding to a question Mohammad Al Hashemi, Director of Planning and Business Development Department at the Public Transport Agency, said the RTA aims to increase the public bus transport network from the existing 75 per cent to 80 per cent in urban areas in Dubai by the end of this year.
The dedicated bus and taxi lane service will also be extended to a number of roads in Dubai, said a senior official.
"We will extend provision of dedicated bus and taxi lanes in a number of other areas of Deira and Bur Dubai after studying the impact of the existing service for at least three months," said Essa Abdul Rahman Al Dossari, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the RTA’s Public Transport Agency. The RTA introduced special bus and taxi lanes on three roads in Dubai with effect from April 30 with an aim to reduce travel time for commuters using buses and taxis.
Would you take the bus if your company provided the service? Will this option encourage people to switch to public transport completely?
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