The trial run was launched yesterday by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. He along with senior officials witnessed the test run on the Red Line between Jebel Ali and Ibn Battuta stations.
Shaikh Mohammad was accompanied by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai; Shaikh Maktoum Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai; Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs; Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim, Chief of Dubai Police, and a number of other senior officials.
Arriving at the Jebel Ali station, Shaikh Mohammad used the new air-conditioned pedestrian bridge attached to the station for passengers to cross busy Shaikh Zayed Road.
He listened to a presentation by Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) about the Dubai Metro project. Al Tayer said 19 pedestrian bridges were being built linked with metro stations on Shaikh Zayed Road.
Shaikh Mohammad also launched the wireless internet for the trains and the stations. Shaikh Mohammad congratulated the Dubai Metro team and praised their efforts in rolling out a UAE and Dubai landmark.
Once completed, the Dh15.5 billion metro will be the world’s most extensive automated driverless metro system, with Green and Red lines extending 74 kilometres.
story published in Gulf News
