More Free Rides on Abu Dhabi Buses from January 1Adel Arafah

More Free Rides on Abu Dhabi Buses from January 1
Adel Arafah 14 December 2008 for Khaleej Times
ABU DHABI - There will not be any more free trips in public buses in the capital from January 1, 2009.

The Transport Department would fix the bus fare on Monday, Saeed Al Hameli, General Manager of Public Buses Office, told Khaleej Times on Saturday. Sources in the department said the fare would be very low.

For the past six months, 125 state-of-the-art public buses have been transporting passengers to different areas of the emirate free of charge.

The official said the department is planning to operate buses on many new routes, including on the outskirts like Mousaffah industrial area, Khalifa City and other newly constructed towns.

The number of buses will be increased to 1,360 by the end of next year,” the official added.

Al Hameli added that the department has chalked out a plan to be carried out on a gradual basis with a view of operating as many buses as possible in the capital to solve the traffic problem once and for all. The department is also working to make the public buses the quickest means of transport by widening roads and designating exclusive routes for buses, thus encouraging motorists to leave their own vehicles and switch to public buses, he said.