By Lily B. Libo-on www.khaleejtimes.com www.delhimetro.net
The Public Transport Agency (PTA) of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has suspended the old traditional payment system via paper tickets for bus services and introduced the Unified Fare Collection System (Nol cards) in all inter-city bus services from and to Dubai except to Abu Dhabi.
The move applies to all routes except the Abu Dhabi-Dubai route pending further notice.
PTA records show that inter-city public buses make 900 trips daily through 12 routes connecting Dubai to other emirates, lifting more than 35,000 passengers. The seven routes connecting Dubai to Sharjah alone carry more than 17,000 passengers daily.
Adel Mohammad Shakeri, Director of Transportation Systems, RTA Public Transport Agency, said the success of the Automated Fare Collection System in city-buses within Dubai has promoted PTA to generalise this method of payment in all Inter-City bus trips from and to the emirate throughout the bus stations dotting Dubai emirate and other cities in the UAE.
“The RTA through issuing Nol cards has dispensed the paper tickets in paying public transport fares, which translates into the global concepts as conserving the environment through reducing wood consumption, the sole source of paper manufacturing,” Shakeri said.
Public bus trips bound to other emirates start from eight main stations in Ghubaiba, Ittihad, Satwa, Karama, Sabkha, Deira City Centre, Abu Hail and Ibn Battuta. They serve all routes and several other destinations such as Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Ajman, and Fujairah. More info
