Dubai Taxi signs deal with 7 schools

The Roads and Transport Authority’s (RTA) Dubai Taxi Corporation (DTC) has signed contracts with seven schools in the Emirate of Dubai for transporting about 2,500 students on board 111 newly-designed school buses starting from the forthcoming academic year 2015-16.

These schools are the German School, St Mary's, Dar Al Marefa, Dubai Modern Education, Hartland International, Al Ittihad Al Mamzar, and Al Ittihad Jumeirah Schools.

Accordingly, the Official School Transporter certificate will be awarded.

To this effect a ceremony was held for the signing of agreements with the seven schools at the Head Office of the RTA in the presence of Ahmed Al Suwaidi, CEO of Dubai Taxi Corporation; Mohammed Yousef, Director of Corporate Affairs; Mohammed Abu Bakr Al Hashmi, Director of School Transport; and Abdullah Al Meer, Director of Business Development at the DTC.

“Following intensive media campaigns and field visits to schools in the Emirate to enlighten them about our schools transport service, 35 schools expressed interest in signing up for RTA school transport service. The early results are culminated in the signing of agreements with seven schools who were briefed about the school transport service and specifications of the school buses. Accordingly, students of these schools will be lifted by our new school transport buses starting from the next academic year 2015-16,” said Ahmed Al Suwaidi, CEO of Dubai Taxi Corporation.

“The new buses have been fitted with the latest technologies and smart services considered the first of its kind in the Middle East including CCTV cameras for the safety & security of students, and the body of the bus has been integrated with passengers’ cabin rendering it stronger and more protected against major collision accidents. An SMS service will be in operation informing parents about the safe arrival of their wards, and the buses are fitted with tracking system using GIS technology as well as Wi-Fi service for interested schools,” added Al Suwaidi.

“The technical & technological specifications of the school bus include a hydraulic suspension system for the convenience of the disabled students using wheel chairs. Thus it will be easy to adjust the bus door and level it with the floor to facilitate the boarding & alighting process. A remote system for control & monitoring will also be operational through the Control Center at the Fleet operations Department at the DTC, using environment-friendly technologies,” explained the CEO of Dubai Taxi Corporation.

Mohammed Abu Bakr Al Hashmi, Director of School Transport at the DTC, said: “This service is being provided to schools and colleges using high-quality buses at the highest standards of the transportation industry worldwide. Moreover, highly experienced professional bus drivers and attendants will be deployed on these buses which are fitted with sophisticated technologies for the safety & security of all riders.”

Abdullah Al Meer, Director of Business Development at the DTC, said: “Work is up-and-running in developing a comprehensive promotional plan for the school transport service, and increasing the number of schools using our service. The RTA is planning to maintain a 10% annual growth of its market share up to 2024 through live demonstrations and site tours to private schools in the Emirate. For this purpose, it will be coordinating with various internal bodies at the DTC and concerned parties in the RTA towards intensifying media campaigns about the school transport service using written & audio media as well as various social media channels.”

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.