DUBAI: HE Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), has held a coordinative meeting with HE Major General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police. The meeting discussed ways & means of boosting their cooperation in managing traffic movement during mega events in Dubai.
At the start of the meeting, which was held in RTA’s premises, Al Tayer welcomed Al Marri and stressed the importance of holding coordinative meetings between the two parties in enhancing the cooperation and developing a common approach to a variety of issues. “These issues are highlighted by the improved traffic safety, smooth flow of traffic and enhanced safety of public transit means across Dubai in the interest of citizens and residents of the Emirate. These meetings are part of channels used by the two parties to develop common viewpoints and act in team spirit,” said Al Tayer.
Al Marri praised the existing coordination between the two entities. “The RTA and Dubai Police share a wide range of roles & responsibilities that serve the strategic objectives & goals of the Dubai Government. Their cooperation sets a role model for others to emulate in serving the common business without interfering in the specialist jobs of each party. This sort of coordination is bound to improve the services provided by the two departments to citizens & residents of the Emirate,” noted Al Marri.
The meeting discussed means of stepping up coordination in organising and managing traffic movement during major events to facilitate the mobility of people from and to event venues in a smooth manner. The two parties examined road and transport system projects designed to cater to Expo 2020 needs; as endorsed by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, during his recent visit to the RTA. The Enterprise Command & Control Center inaugurated by HH last May was one of the key projects completed. The Center will contribute to monitoring and controlling the movement of all transit means and crowds during Expo 2020.
Road projects serving Expo comprise two main parts: upgrading the intersections of the Airport Street to accommodate the traffic movement around Dubai International Airport, which will be completed in February 2018; meanwhile road projects around Expo will be completed in phases ending in February 2020. The RTA will also deploy 724 buses and 2,900 taxicabs or more to serve Expo, besides constructing 14 bus stations in different places. “Route 2020” Project for the extension of the Dubai Metro is progressing according to the set plan where completion rate has now reached 15% and is set for operation in May 2020.
The RTA and the General HQ of Dubai Police have recently endorsed the outlines of a five-year Executive Plan of Traffic Safety Strategy. It comprises four key drivers namely: traffic monitoring & enforcement, engineering of roads and vehicles, traffic awareness, and improved systems and management. The two sides also approved the Strategic Performance Indicators and the targets of the Dubai Traffic Safety Strategy 2017-2021. News Desk
