Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced plans to construct 400 solar-powered air-conditioned bus shelters across the UAE emirate under the second phase of its ambitious project.

The project encompasses the construction of both air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned bus shelters in various parts of Dubai, depending on the volume of demand, stated Mattar Al Tayer, the director-general and chairman of the board of executive directors of the RTA.

Al Tayer was speaking after unveiling the new model design of solar-powered bus shelters, rendering it the first creative solution for constructing this sort of shelters at places where there is no power supply.

These shelters will be powered by solar panels to generate electricity enough to illuminate the shelter as well as the attached advertising signs, he added.

On completion of the second phase, the total number of bus shelters will rise to 1,285, he added.

"Phase Two of bus shelters project is part of RTA 's continuous endeavours to maintain its excellence and pioneering drive through undertaking quality projects in Dubai," observed Al Tayer.

"It is also part of a masterplan to leverage the public transport sector along with associated infrastructure in the emirate with the aim of bringing happiness and comfort to riders especially during the blazing summer season," .

"Through this project, the RTA seeks to provide an attractive element enticing people to use mass transit means and accordingly push the share of public transport in the daily mobility of persons in the emirate from six per cent in 2006 to 20 per cent in 2020 and further to 30 per cent by 2030. In 2014, the RTA succeeded in raising this rate to as much as 14 per cent," said Al Tayer.

According to him, the newly designed crescent-shaped shelters will be made using high quality materials and paints resistant to heat, humidity and dust. "They will also be fitted with modern air-conditioning systems and eight seats custom-made to give added convenience to users," he explained.

The shelter, which can accommodate 13 to 16 individuals, is also designed with the physically challenged in mind, and will be fitted with screens directly linked with the control room of Public Transport Agency in order to transmit information about journeys and routes available," he explained.

"The RTA had already accomplished Phase One of air-conditioned shelters comprising the construction of 885 shelters at 635 bus stops. Surveys of bus riders indicated a high rate of satisfaction with these shelters," he said.-TradeArabia News Service