On Sunday (March 29), the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority, RTA, announced that it has extended the suspension of public transport services across the emirate until April 5.
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The move comes as part of the National Disinfection Program jointly undertaken by the Ministry of Health and Prevention and the Ministry of Interior.
Dubai RTA: Suspension of Metro, Tram and Marine Services Extended Until April 5
In line with this, public transit services – metro, tram, and marine – will cease to operate from 20:00 to 06:00 daily up until 5th April 2020, the RTA announced as shared in a report by WAM.
Further, the services will operate during regular timings outside of the hours during which disinfection processes will take place.
The RTA noted: “During these hours over this period, all public transport means in Dubai will cease services, and will operate on regular schedules outside those hours i.e. from 07:00 to 19:00.“
The authority also noted that full operational timetables will be restored by the end of the National Disinfection Program.
ALSO READ: UAE National Disinfection Program Extended until April 4
In the same manner, the RTA has also announced the suspension of all marine transport services including Abras, Ferry and Water Taxi, until April 30, 2020, as part of the emirate’s precautionary measures taken to curb the spread of COVID-19.
It also noted that all public transport journeys will commence at 07:00.
Meanwhile, the last journey on Dubai Metro’s Red Line will depart at 18:02 from Rashidiya Station to UAE Exchange Station, and at 18:02 UAE Exchange Station to Rashidiya Station.
On the Green Line, the RTA added, the last train will depart from Creek Station to Etisalat Station at 18:13, and the last train departs from Etisalat Station to Creek Station at 18:17.
Moreover, the authority noted that the last intercity bus service will depart at 16:00 to Abu Dhabi and Fujairah, and 17:00 to Ajman and Sharjah.
In the meantime, taxi services via Careem and Uber apps will be available during the National Disinfection Program hours, and public buses will operate across 13 routes, namely routes 8, 10, 12, A13, 17, 24, C01, C07, F18, F21, F34, F43 and X23 at a frequency of 30 minutes.
The authority explained the consideration made for deciding on these routes as they serve 19 public and private hospitals including, Rashid Hospital in Oud Metha, Iranian Hospital in Al Wasl, Zulekha Hospital in Al Qusais, Dubai Hospital on Al Khaleej Road Deira, Baraha Hospital in Al Baraha Deira, Latifa Hospital in Al Jadaf NMC Hospital in Al Qusais, American Hospital in Oud Metha, Saudi German Hospital in Al Barsha, and several hospitals in Healthcare City including Emirates Speciality Hospital, Dubai Dental Hospital, BR Medical Suites, Sapphire Day Surgery Centre, American Heart Center, Dr. Riadh Hospital, Emirates Integra Medical & Surgery Centre, Medclinic City Hospital, and Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Hospital.
The abovementioned transport services are left available during the National Disinfection Program mainly for those working in vital sectors specified in the decisions of Health and Interior ministries as well as emergency medical conditions.
During this period, the RTA called on members of the public utilizing public transport services to cooperate with supervisors deployed at stations, metro and tram carriages and drivers of public buses and taxis.
And finally, commuters are also encouraged to use personal protective equipment (PPE) while riding public buses or moving around public spaces and to observe safe distances from each other as per the prevention guidelines and instructions issued.
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