Abu Dhabi Metro to be ready by October 2015

(MENAFN - Khaleej Times) The first segment of the metro railway line Abu Dhabi will be ready by October 2015, according to Dr Abdelgader Elshabani, Senior Transportation Planning Specialist at the Department of Transport, or 
DoT of Abu Dhabi.

The Metro railway will be about 150 km long and will go around the main island of Abu Dhabi, Dr Abdelgader disclosed while making a presentation at the MEED's Middle East Rail 
Projects Conference.

Preliminary studies have already been completed on the project and detailed study will begin later this year.

Dr Abdelgader however declined to give the estimated cost of the project saying that the detailed study was expected to go into the cost of the project also.

DoT was also planning light rail and water transport networks in the capital emirate. Studies for finalizing the light train transport network will be launched in 2010 and for water transport network later this year.

The studies will decide how much portion of the metro will be underground. He said launch of metro rail and water projects will be part of the transport master plan for the capital city.

The plan envisages other forms of interventions to regulate the flow of private vehicles on the road and to promote the use of public transport.

Increasing fuel prices, imposing area-wise parking fees and congestion fees, introducing alternate working hours and encouraging measures like car pooling are some of the measures envisaged in the policy.

Emphasizing the need for launching metro railway in Abu Dhabi Dr Abdelgader said the growth in the number of vehicles will be at such high levels in the capital city that even a 50-lane road will not be able avoid traffic congestion.

Source: Middle East North Africa Financial News (MENAFN).
Link: http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story_s.asp?StoryId=1093276469.