NEWS FROM THE UAE
SOURCE : WAM/THE NATIONAL/GULF TODAY
Dubai hits Red Line milestone for metro
Dubai - Aug 23: Dubai’s eagerly awaited Dh15.5 billion (US$4.2bn) driverless metro project has reached a milestone ahead of schedule after round-the-clock work for three years by 25,000 people.
A senior project official said yesterday the 52km Red Line viaduct, which stretches the length of Sheikh Zayed Road between Al Rashidiya and Jebel Ali, was now complete.
“This is a hugely important milestone in the construction of the metro,” said Paul Anderson, a project director with Serco, the company that will operate Dubai Metro.
“This means you could walk the entire length of it from one end to the other without coming across any gaps. Work on it finished last week, three days ahead of schedule,” he said.
Mr Anderson said completion of the viaduct on target for the September 2009 opening was a significant achievement by everyone involved.
“They’ve done exceptionally well – 52km of viaduct and tunnel in that space of time, under those kind of conditions, is an amazing feat, and to the best of my knowledge unparalleled anywhere else in the world,” he said. “Despite working in such a tight time frame, the quality of the product is exceptional.”
The Red Line will carry an estimated 27,000 passengers per hour in each direction on 42 trains, stopping at Burj Dubai, Internet City and Jebel Ali among other stations.
Work on the Red Line began in August 2005. Since then, about 25,000 workers, from engineers to labourers, have toiled day and night to stay ahead of the four-year deadline.
Heavy-duty equipment, including 10 giant launching gantries, were used to install the viaduct spans.
Most of the work on the Red Line, particularly on the stations, has been carried out in some of Dubai’s most congested commuter locations, making it difficult to transport materials such as steel and concrete to the sites. Increases in the costs of construction materials have also created problems, as project directors fought to keep within budget.
The last of 1,300 spans – the tall, concrete structures that support the viaduct – had been placed and the track was now ready to be laid, Mr Anderson said.
“Now that’s complete, the next stage will be to lay the track and fit out the stations, so people will start to see a lot more activity going on along that stretch.”
Adnan al Hammadi, the Roads and Transport Authority’s (RTA) director of construction, rail projects, said: “This milestone would have not been possible without the diligence and support of the construction team on the rail project.”
Once complete, the 75km Dubai Metro will become the largest light railway system to be built in one phase. Work started on the 22km Green Line, which will link Al Qusais to Dubai Healthcare City, in 2006 and is scheduled for completion in March 2010.
The Red Line and Green Line will be built from 1,800 viaduct spans, using 267,000 cubic metres of concrete.
The metro is the most ambitious part of the RTA’s integrated mass transport system, which it hopes will ease the emirate’s notorious traffic problems by encouraging people not to use their cars. Recent figures indicate the estimated cost of traffic congestion to Dubai’s economy is Dh4.6bn per year.
According to RTA research, public transport is used for only five per cent of trips. The authority’s challenge is to increase this to between 30 and 35 per cent by 2020 by enhancing bus services, adding the metro lines and increasing the availability of marine transport.
Dubai has the highest rate of car ownership of any city in the world – with one car for every 1.84 residents, giving an average vehicle occupancy rate of 1.7.
After the metro’s Red Line and Green Line are in place, the RTA’s Rail Agency will start construction on the Purple Line and Blue Line. The 49km Purple Line will run the length of Al Khail Road to connect Dubai International Airport with Al Maktoum Airport in Jebel Ali.
The Blue Line, which will initially be 50km, will link Dubai International Airport to Jebel Ali Airport, passing through Emirates Road.
The Rail Agency intends to build a total of 318km of metro lines and 270km of tram lines by 2020.
THE NATIONAL
RTA turns heat on Abras
DUBAI - AUG 23:POOR docking, improper hygiene among others are some of the cases that have attracted huge fines for the operators of the popular boats also known as Abra on the Dubai Creek since the beginning of this year.
With 44 accounts, failure to dock or park an Abra in the prescribed station topped the list of 169 offences. This was followed by loading and off loading of passengers from/in locations other than the specified stations at 26.
According to the Director of Operation and Maintenance Department at RTA Marine Agency, Hussain Ali Al-Saffar, "We consider a lot of aspects in our effort to keep the Abra service up to date, internal hygiene is one of them.".
The fines vary from Dhs100 to Dhs500 in addition to any other penalties which Hussain said are meant "to deter operators of Abras in Dubai Creek from misbehaving."
There are 150 Abra units run by 300 coxswains/drivers who work in two shifts up to midnight except Line 2 that provides shuttling service between Dubai Old Souk Station and Al-Sabkha Station; which operates 24 hours a day.
"These offences and penalties are meant to deter operators from reckless driving and ensure good-looking of Abras in a way that reflects the attention of the agency to streamline passenger transport across Dubai Creek by motorised Abras," he added.
"Following the enforcement of Offences and Fines Code governing Organisation and Operation of Abras in Dubai Creek, RTA Marine Agency reported 169 offences against Abra operators in Dubai Creek as of the beginning of January up to the end of June 2008," said Hussain.
Each crossing costs Dh1, save the service that is provided to tourists which goes to Dhs100 per Abra per hour. Hussain said that the Operation and Maintenance Department at RTA Marine Agency is the competent body to report offences and issue tickets.
"The Department has well qualified and trained personnel who are competent enough to measure the performance, monitor operators and maintain security and safety of passenger transit services provided by the Agency," he said adding that "Such offences are not reported randomly, but in accordance with rules and pre-defined systems specially tailored for this end. In fact these issues are tackled in training courses held in coordination with strategic partners such as Dubai Civil Defence."
The officer explained: "The reason for reporting these offences is to ensure that security and safety aspects are addressed in stations as well as Abras; maintain the safety of passengers and facilities such as stations and docking yards of Abras and ensure collection of the prescribed fare for Abra service."
GULF TODAY
India Club to celebrate Janmashtami tomorrow
DUBAI - AUG 23: India Club, Dubai will celebrate Janmashtami on Sunday. The club will organise the Dahi Handi celebrations for the first time in Dubai.
Dahi Handi is a popular ceremony which celebrates the childhood pranks of Krishna and his young friends. Dahi Handi is an enactment of Krishna's efforts to steal butter from a Matka (earthen pot) suspended from the ceiling.
Enthusiastic members of India Club would form a three tiered human pyramid to break the Dahi Handi. Traditionally, the pot contains butter, milk, honey and dry fruits and coins which are distributed amongst the people breaking the pot. It is believed that the broken pieces of earthen pot will keep away mice and negative powers.
Dubai's popular DJ Knox will play popular Bollywood hits and other songs related to the Dahi Handi celebrations to entertain the audience.
Tech to tackle body odour
DUBAI - AUG 23: NOW, Dhs30,000 is all that takes for a permanent solution to those armpits that sweat buckets!
Five residents have already shelled out the amount to undergo a pioneering treatment method brought to Dubai by twin cosmetic surgeons from London Centre for Aesthetic Surgery some four months ago.
Dr Maurizio Viel and Dr Roberto Viel, the twin brothers who own the Centre in Dubai Health Care City (DHCC), say that the treatment using vaser technology is the only long-lasting cure for excessive underarm sweating and odour.
They use ultrasound technology to destroy glands that cause excessive sweating -- a condition known as hyperhidrosis but only in one part of the body, the armpit. An ultrasound machine is used to produce the energy that can destroy sweat glands through a two-millimetre probe that is inserted into the armpit.
Until now, the only solution for excessive perspiration problems have been Botox jabs or liposuction. However, the effects of Botox wear off in a few months, while traditional lipoplasty involves sucking sweat glands out of the armpit, which is painful and traumatic.
"The Vaser technology is neither painful nor temporary. The procedure takes just 45minutes and the patient can be discharged on the same day," Dr Maurizio Viel told The Gulf Today.
"We don't know exactly how this works, but it is the ultrasound waves and heat generated that kill the glands," said Dr Roberto Viel.
The first Harley Street surgeons to locate at DHCC, the Viels have treated about 30 patients at their London centre ever since they began the procedure towards the end of 2007. The veteran cosmetic surgeons are now offering the procedure exclusively at DHCC at the same rate.
"This is an all-inclusive rate which we used to charge patients in London. We may review the fees after seeing the response from the patients here," said Dr Maurizio who has presented papers on the new procedure at international conferences in Singapore, Dubai and Melbourne. He now hopes that this new development in aesthetics and hygiene will spark interest among commuters and others soaking in the stifling summer heat of Dubai.
"Excess sweating can be a serious issue leading to embarrassment and low self-esteem. Executives who fear summer boardroom meetings and starts seeking new ways to look their best could well benefit from this non-intrusive, yet effective and lasting procedure."
Asked if the permanent destruction of sweat glands would not affect the general health of the patient and the body's self cooling capacity, the doctor explained that this antiperspirant therapy was applicable only in the case of excessive underarm sweating and would not affect the sweat glands in the remaining part of the body that could cool the skin during hot conditions.
"It cannot be done in any other part of the body like arms, feet or back and it will not have any effect on the general health condition as perspiration in the remaining part of the body is not affected. Sweat glands in only a small area are removed and there have been no adverse effects so far."
Though the doctor duo has not personally conducted any clinical trials, Maurizio said that the patients, who had undergone the procedure, had stopped using deodorants and became more confident.
"We have been following up our patients. There were no side effects reported so far, except in one of the first cases that we handled in London. That patient had experienced a small burn, which was cured later."
The pioneering surgeon noted that only trained specialists should conduct the procedure in proper clinical setup. He also advocated the introduction of safe and effective procedural guidelines for the new treatment method.
GULF TODAY
To ban or not to ban - UAE Press editorials
Abu Dhabi - Aug 22: Two English language newspapers in UAE published editorials today, warning about the pitfalls in cyberspace as well as in the global TV programming.
Under the title 'Parents should see what their children watch', Gulf News wrote: 'Concerns shown by parents and sociologists over the amount of violence in films and television are right to be expressed. However, the often heard refrain of "something must be done" - usually by parents - is a poor attempt at evading responsibility.
'If a decision is made to bring children into this world, then it is only reasonable to expect parents to monitor and control their children and ensure they have the right attitudes to become an acceptable member of society. If this includes parents imposing discipline upon their offspring, then so be it, for they should be the best persons to impart such knowledge. Expecting schoolteachers to assume parental responsibilities, and blaming them for any deficiencies the children may have had in their upbringing, is merely an effort in buck-passing because the parents are too lazy or too uninformed to do better.
'Censorship panels advise cinema managements on the ratings deemed most appropriate for all films. Sadly, the guidelines laid down are not always adhered to and children get to see films which have been deemed unsuitable for them. It is not just a case of cinema managements being more restrictive and controlling, but also for parents to ensure that their children understand the consequence of their actions should they flout the guidelines.
'While it is true that some children may appear not to be affected by gratuitous scenes of violence, it is difficult even for psychologists to determine what long-term harm may befall them. What may be acceptable to one child could prove traumatic to another of the same age; it all depends on their education and upbringing.
'If parents are worried about their children viewing films, either in the cinema or on TV, then it is in their hands to guide their offspring appropriately'.
Asking whether 'To ban or not to ban', Khaleej Times wrote: 'The news that the UAE Telecommunication Regulatory Authority will unblock 1,000 Internet sites by August 29 is welcome news.
'The fact that the list of sites to be unblocked includes previously blocked medical sites and Internet forums is laudable. It has to be remembered that clean and useful sites may get blocked, while obnoxious and offensive ones, under the guise of innocent names could still be accessible. When the ocean of web sites is so vast, it is easy for some fish to evade the net.
'As the deadline for the two Internet service providers? Etisalat and du? to comply with rule approaches, the question that still remains to be answered is, why ban them in the first place? The answers could vary, depending upon the site content. Popular social network sites like Orkut.com could pose threats to the largely young people who use them.
'With copious amount of personal data placed on such sites, the young are vulnerable to paedophiles and other unsavoury elements. Since such sites provide an ego wall, they have turned it into a lucrative source of personal information for identity thieves. It could also be a meeting place for fakesters ? those who 'create' a fake person and post his/her profile. So you could befriend a person who doesn't even exist.
'Of late, many flogs (fake blogs) have mushroomed which give the impression of being written by a satisfied customer of a product, but is, in reality, are maintained by PR agencies for their corporate clientele. All these seem innocuous and harmless in the light of the revelation by investigators that many perpetrators of terror get the know-how for making explosives on the Internet.
'When the information from how to get a fake passport to how to put together a napalm bomb is available at the touch of a button, all they have to do is follow the recipe. Admittedly, it is not easy to find a simple rationale to act as a guiding principle to block or unblock sites. The rationale itself may vary from place to place. What is harmless in a society could be objectionable in another.
'Knowledge is no longer an esoteric property of an elite few. No one in this day and age disputes that it should be freely available, to provide a level playing field for all. But the question is, what constitutes knowledge? A little knowledge may be a dangerous thing. But once in the public domain, too much of it could prove even more dangerous. But who decides the dosage and how'?
WAM