RTA orders 1,616 buses worth Dh8.6 billion

Dubai is set to get 1,616 state-of-the-art buses worth Dh8.6 billion.

The board of directors of Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority has approved five reputed firms to supply the emirate with 1,616 advanced buses at a total cost of around Dh8.6 billion, the largest ever deal in the world.

Executive Director of RTA's Public Transport Agency Essa Abdul Rahman Al Dosari said the buses will provide enough space, comfort, solidity and safety on the roads.

He said the new buses will be of various types and sizes, with the highest safety standards and equipped with modern features such as the announcement of stops.

This will bring to 2,500 the total number of buses as of 2009, covering the largest percentage of emirate's areas, said Al Dosari, adding that demand for public transport has grown because of the rise in population.

He said Dubai Metro stations will be linked with bus routes if needed. Al Dosari said the number of trips made by public transport buses will go up to 30 per cent by the year 2020.