News headlines


NEWS FROM THE U.A.E.
Excerpts from UAE Dailies

Abu Dhabi to build metro rail system 

Dubai: 10 May : Abu Dhabi will build a metro system as part of a master public transport plan, a senior official said yesterday.

"The Abu Dhabi Metro project is currently under study and it will soon be unveiled," said Ahmad Rashid Al Rashidi, Director of Public Transport Department (PTD) in Abu Dhabi.

"You will soon hear a good news," he said while replying to a Gulf News question on when the metro project will be launched. The project details and cost will be announced after completion of the study.

Al Rashidi said the Abu Dhabi Metro would be linked to the Dubai Metro to provide a vital link and ensure smooth travel for metro users between the two emirates. "We will also have the option of extending it to other cities in Abu Dhabi as well as to link it to railway systems in other GCC states," he said.

Al Rashidi said the PTD is working in cooperation with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai to build Abu Dhabi's public transport system. "We are learning from their experience of the Dubai Metro and other public transport projects," he said at a ceremony to launch RTA's air-conditioned bus shelters.

Al Rashidi said between five to seven taxi companies will be introduced within eight months while existing private taxi services will be phased out.

New bus shelters

He said the PTD is working on the masterplan for buses and other modes of public transport with an aim to cut growth of cars by 50 per cent in the future.

"After the success of the express bus service between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, we are going to introduce similar services between Al Ain and Dubai, and Abu Dhabi and Al Ain," Al Rashidi said.

"A comprehensive network of public transport within Abu Dhabi will be in place very soon," he said.

Abu Dhabi's transport chief said the PTD will also build around 500 air-conditioned bus stop shelters in Abu Dhabi within the next 18 months.

Comprehensive network: New fleet of taxis to ply capital's roads soon

The Abu Dhabi Metro to be linked to the Dubai Metro
There will be a comprehensive network of public transport buses within Abu Dhabi
Bus links to other emirates will be introduced
Private taxis will be phased out gradually
Five to seven taxi companies to be introduced within eight months

GULF NEWS

Tough penalties for human trafficking under study


Abu Dhabi: May 06: A draft law that will bring the UAE more in line with international standards to eliminate human trafficking will be issued soon, a senior official said yesterday.

The draft, prepared by the Ministry of Justice to criminalise trafficking and protect trafficking victims, proposes stiff penalties for all forms of trafficking, said Sultan Bin Saeed Al Badi, Undersecretary of the ministry.

"The draft law is being assessed by the National Committee for Combating Trafficking in Persons," Al Badi said after a meeting of the committee.

Al Badi, who also heads the committee, added the law was in keeping with the UAE's policy to protect human rights.

"The draft has a chapter for the definition of human trafficking and calls for setting up a national committee to follow up enforcement of the law and educate the public on this terrible crime.

"The law will fight trafficking as a form of organised crime, which should be dealt with using criminal powers to investigate and prosecute offenders for trafficking and any other criminal activities in which they engage. The law will also regulate support and protection of trafficked persons, who should be seen as victims of crime."

The National Committee for Combating Trafficking in Persons, set up on a decision issued by Lieutenant General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Interior Minister, comprised representatives from the ministries of Interior, Foreign Affairs and Labour as well as Dubai police, the Red Crescent Authority and the Zayed Establishment for Charitable Works.

Martin Fouuke, a criminal prevention expert with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, said the introduction of a draft law in the UAE was the "first step" in eradicating a practice found "in virtually every country in the world."

The UAE must report all recorded cases if the practice is to be eliminated in the country, Fouuke said.

"The UAE has made headway by ending the use of children as camel jockeys," said Fouuke, a contributing author of the first international report on human trafficking.

The report called Trafficking in Persons Global Patterns concluded that virtually no country is immune.

The 128-page document identified 127 countries as sources of trafficking victims and 137 countries as destinations, including the European Union, North America, other Gulf States, China and Japan.

GULF NEWS

Relief for drivers as new lanes will ease gridlock

Dubai - May 06 : Your journey to work may be a little easier from now on after a Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) project was completed yesterday, which officials hope will ease congestion on key arteries such as the Trade Centre Underpass.

The addition of extra lanes to the stretch of road from Dubai World Trade Centre on to Sheikh Rashid Road and Umm Hurair Road should eliminate the problem of vehicles dangerously crisscrossing the road and help to improve traffic flow once the lanes are opened tomorrow.

“This will eliminate the weaving problem,” said engineer Ali Al Jassim, construction supervision manager at the authority.

Before the changes, which were completed yesterday, drivers had only about 350 metres to change as many as three lanes.

After the construction work on the expansion of the underpass and the addition of two more lanes to the road finished yesterday, drivers coming from the underpass will now have direct access to the Sheikh Rashid Road and will not need to change lanes.

The road is a vital link and connects the underpass and the Trade Centre Roundabout with the Maktoum and Garhoud bridges and Dubai International Airport and eventually, Sharjah.

Other RTA projects soon to be finished include modification works on Al Maktoum Street.

Another lane is being added to Al Maktoum Street. This lane will help ease the journey of those drivers looking to make the right turn for Baniyas Road or heading straight on to the Clock Tower Roundabout and on to the Maktoum bridge. Other changes include increasing the number of lanes on Al Maktoum bridge leading to Bur Dubai.

The changes are part of a yearlong plan aimed at providing instant relief to the traffic flow in key locations across the city.

Engineers are examining the locations and implementing solutions to optimise the traffic flow in each location,Al Jassim said.

The authority has a target of 20 such projects, which will all have to be completed this year, Al Jassim said. So far, 10 of the projects have either been completed or are nearing completion.

“We have clear instructions from the Government of Dubai and from our chairman to ease the traffic by finding quick and easy solutions,” said Al Jassim.

Your journey to work may be a lit- tle easier from now on after a Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) project was completed yesterday, which offi- cials hope will ease congestion on key arteries such as the Trade Centre Underpass. The addition of extra lanes to the stretch of road from Dubai World Trade Centre on to Sheikh Rashid Road and Umm Hurair Road should eliminate the prob- lem of vehicles dangerously criss- crossing the road and help to improve traffic flow once the lanes are opened tomorrow. “This will eliminate the weav- ing problem,” said engineer Ali Al Jassim, construction supervision manager at the authority. Before the changes, which were completed yesterday, driv- ers had only about 350 metres to change as many as three lanes. After the construction work on the expansion of the underpass and the addition of two more lanes to the road finished yester- day, drivers coming from the underpass will now have direct access to the Sheikh Rashid Road and will not need to change lanes. The road is a vital link and con- nects the underpass and the Trade Centre Roundabout with the Maktoum and Garhoud bridges and Dubai International Airport and eventually, Sharjah.

Other RTA projects soon to be finished include modification works on Al Maktoum Street. Another lane is being added to Al Maktoum Street. This lane will help ease the journey of those drivers looking to make the right turn for Baniyas Road or heading straight on to the Clock Tower Roundabout and on to the Mak- toum bridge. Other changes include increasing the number of lanes on Al Maktoum bridge leading to Bur Dubai. The changes are part of a year- long plan aimed at providing instant relief to the traffic flow in key locations across the city. Engineers are examining the locations and implementing solu- tions to optimise the traffic flow in each location,Al Jassim said. The authority has a target of 20 such projects, which will all have to be completed this year, Al Jassim said. So far, 10 of the proj- ects have either been completed or are nearing completion. “We have clear instructions from the Government of Dubai and from our chairman to ease the traffic by finding quick and easy solutions,” said Al Jassim.

EMIRATES TODAY

Ministry to review health services charges


DUBAI — May 10:The Ministry of Health will review the charges of services it is rendering at the hospitals countrywide, Humaid Al Qattami, Minister of Health, told Khaleej Times. All charges currently applicable in hospitals will be reviewed, he said.

The services, which will be subject to review, include those provided to the public sector, which constitute a big segment with an impact on the development process, he said.

Qattami referred to a study the ministry is engaged in studying. The study, to be announced soon, entails the services rendered by the School Health Department to include students of private schools, after they were confined only to government schools students, he stated.

“Students at both public and private schools should be treated on par,” he added.

 KHALEEJ TIMES

  

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