Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced the opening of the Oud Mehta Bus Station, the latest addition to the authority’s network of bus stations that feature an ultra-modern design, rendering it a model station.
According to a WAM report, the station is integrated with the metro and taxi services as it is just 300 metres away from Oud Mehta Metro Station. The station offers a new concept in public transport services through integrated facilities such as car parks, bike racks, office spaces, customer service areas, trading outlets and self-service kiosks.
“The construction of the stations for passengers complement the efforts of the RTA to upgrade public transport infrastructure and encourage people to use public transit means for their daily commute. The new station boasts of a state-of-the-art design that caters to the needs of sustainability and people of determination, yet coherent with the identity and shape of the RTA’s stations.
“The role of the new stations goes beyond the prevailing concept of commuting passengers to encompass the offering of integrated services to passengers such as car parks, bike racks and the integration with the metro and taxi services,” said Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority.
The Oud Mehta Bus Station spans an area of 9,640sqm. It is situated in a densely populated area neighbouring Oud Metha Metro Station, schools, community clubs and business centres. The station comprises a ground floor, three identical floors and rooftop parking and has designated spaces for bus stops, taxi stands and private vehicles parking. The average number of passengers using the station is expected to reach 10,000 riders per day in future.
The bus station facilities include nine operational parking slots for buses, 11 for out-of-service buses, 350 parking slots for vehicles, 23 bicycle racks, passenger pick-up and drop-off points. It also includes parking for waiting and emergency buses, parking spaces for taxis, staff and visitors, furnished rest areas for the public, café and rest area for drivers, prayer rooms for males and females, staff offices, and public toilets.
It also has retail outlets and investment areas, designated for Emirati start-ups in coordination with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for SME Development. It also has space for self-service kiosks and e-pay, nol card machines, bus information display screens, customers happiness’ index, ATMs, refreshments and snacks vending machines.
The station serves eight bus routes of which seven serve public transport routes and the one is a metro link. Forty buses are deployed on these routes, which link key places and areas in the city such as Dubai Mall, Al Qusais, Burjuman, Dubai Museum, International City, Wafi City, Al Seef, Business Bay, Al Nahda, Al Safa and Al Satwa.
The RTA has opened four public bus stations namely: Al Ghubaiba, Al Jaliyah, Etisalat and the Union Bus Stations. Al Ghubaiba Bus Station comprises six buildings and covers an area of 2,452sqm and can serve 15,000 passengers per day.
Meanwhile, the Union Bus Station at Deira consists of three buildings spanning an area of 2,180sqm and can serve 7,500 passengers per day. Etisalat Bus Station, which is connected to Etisalat Metro Station, is comprised of a ground floor and a mezzanine floor. The station covers an area of 708sqm and can serve up to 4,500 passengers per day, the RTA added.
