Dubai announces free public bus service, taxi discounts during extended sterilisation drive

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced that its public bus services will be free of charge for exempted individuals during the extended disinfection period.

In addition, Dubai Taxi vehicles and franchised taxis will offer a 50 per cent discount on normal fares, official news agency WAM reported.

The decision follows an announcement made by Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management, in coordination with the Command and Control Centre for Combating Covid-19, to extend the sterilisation programme to 24 hours for two weeks.

The two-week period is subject to renewal.

Read: Dubai extends sterilisation drive to 24 hours for two weeks

Meanwhile, RTA tweeted that only 13 bus routes serving hospitals will be functional from 8pm to 6am, which include: 8, 10, 12, A13, 17, 24, C01, C07, F18, F21, F34, F43 and X23. These will operate at a frequency of 30 minutes.

These routes serve 19 public and private hospitals.

While all bus services will be suspended from 8 pm to 6 am, except for 13 bus routes serving hospitals namely: 8, 10, 12, A13, 17, 24, C01, C07, F18, F21, F34, F43 and X23 at a frequency of 30 minutes. These routes serve 19 public and private hospitals.

— RTA (@rta_dubai) April 4, 2020

During the sterilisation period, all metro and tram services will be suspended.

Your health and safety is a priority. For that we will stop today, to resume soon with safe and smooth journeys.
Until then #StaySafe #StayHome. pic.twitter.com/vl6tT0xJ3p

— RTA (@rta_dubai) April 4, 2020

“The measures aim to help members of the public who need to leave their homes for essential purposes and those who work in vital sectors,” said Mattar Al Tayer, director general and chairman of the board of executive directors of RTA.

“The decision underscores the RTA’s commitment to support the efforts made by Dubai and the UAE to combat the novel coronavirus and reduce the risk of its spread to the minimum,” he added.

The UAE announced the detection of 241 new coronavirus cases on April 4, taking the total number of those infected to 1,505.

The total number of recoveries in the country tallies 125 to date.