Dubai’s RTA to revamp three metro stations

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced plans to improve three metro stations across the emirate.

Dubai Internet City, Damac Properties and UAE Exchange metro stations, all on the red line of the metro network, will have improvement works carried out, as part of a five-year plan to overhaul the public transport service, a statement said.

“The plan envisages upgrading the facilities of 40 metro and marine transport stations up to 2025 and improving the connectivity between stations and urban  and tourist attractions up to 500 metres in the surroundings,” said Mattar Al Tayer, director-general, RTA.

“It (The plan) also encompasses improving the infrastructure around five other stations (Al Rashidiya, GGICO, Al Qiyada, Noor Bank and Financial Centre Station) and two marine transport stations (Dubai Water Canal, Sheikh Zayed Road),” he said.

The stations were chosen based on factors such as the number of riders and people of determination, population density, geographical surroundings, and transfers to other transit means, Al Tayer added.

Besides the improvement of the metro and marine transport stations and their surroundings, the five-year plan aims to offer improved mobility to pedestrians, cyclists and people of determination, the statement said.

RTA launched the ‘virtual Nol card’ initiative last month, allowing users to pay for services directly through their phones, according to an earlier report.

The Nol card, used to pay for public transport services including the Dubai Metro, bus and parking services, is expected to be available in a virtual form by third quarter of 2020.

Read: Dubai’s RTA unveils ‘virtual Nol card’ to enable payment through phones