E-mail Article
Printer Friendly
Share Article
Congestion costing UAE $1.36bn annually
Road congestion is costing the UAE economy around 5 billion dirhams ($1.36 billion) a year, the Abu Dhabi Department of Planning and Economy (DPE) has said, warning that chronic traffic problems risked stunting economic growth.
The DPE said on Saturday in its weekly report carried by state news agency WAM that the "heavy economic toll" congestion was taking needed to be urgently addressed.
The department also highlighted "corrosive social and health effects" of congestion that "undoubtedly take their toll on overall production and performance".
The DPE said it took motorists in Abu Dhabi an average of 45 minutes to get to work.
The department blamed congestion on the soaring number of cars on the UAE capital's roads, lack of capacity on existing roads and lack of public transport.
It said the number of vehicles in Abu Dhabi was set to almost double to one million by 2015, from 559,000 in April.
The DPE called for a dramatic increase in the number of taxis in Abu Dhabi - which has only increased by 8.7 percent since 1995 compared to a population jump of 69.9 percent - as well as an overhaul of the taxi system itself.
It also called for a wider overhaul of the public transport system - including the establishment of metro and railway systems - to make it more attractive to people from all walks of life.
It suggested staggering the working times of the private sector, public sector and students, as well as relocating some government institutions outside the city centre.
Quick Links(Residental)
Filter by address:
Comments 1-1 of 1
Posted by langyaw, Dubai, UAE on 22 June 2008 at 09:36 UAE time
With all the talk about global warming and trying to decrease the UAE's carbon footprint, one of the most apparent solutions is to use non-hydrocarbon transport. The second fact is that not all can afford to buy such vehicles. The third fact is that it is not that easy to get a driver's license. The solution therefore, is to use personal transport that bypasses all those difficulties - namely, the lowly bicycle. However, the bike is still not affordable to all, considering the soaring inflation. So, why shouldn't government offer an incentive for people to use the bike by giving out, say, 10,000 free bicycles to the first 10,000 applicants, and 50% discount to the next 10,000, as a token of its sincerity at solving the congestion and pollution. As an added feature of this program, the government would also create bike lanes throughout each emirate where the bikes can safely travel. In places where it is no longer possible to create bike lanes, a green lane will be alloted for the bikes, and other motor vehicles' speed be restricted to safe limits. The bikes will, of course, have to be of the robust kind, and suitable for Gulf use, designed and built in the UAE, very lightweight, with a carrier basket and bike helmet included in the package. To test this idea, it can be floated to the public in a "survey" to see if there will be any takers. I can almost guarantee it will click with the middle to low-income expats who suffer daily from the lack of transport. Such an idea also will not clash with the RTA's current and future projects, but will complement them. Just my 2 cents worth.