ABU DHABI// The first set of air-conditioned bus shelters in the capital are under construction, with at least 10 expected to be in operation by the end of this month. One shelter has been put up on Hazza bin Zayed Street across the road from Al Wahda Mall and is surrounded by boards. Yesterday, electrical wires could be seen hanging from the structure, which has eight seats and a roof, but no walls as yet.
Another shelter is on Airport Road near an ADNOC station between Hazza bin Zayed and Delma Streets. Most of the first batch are being built along Airport Road and Fourth Street. Saeed al Hameli, general manager of bus transportation for the Department of Transport, said in May that the first shelters would be operational by the end of this month. It is understood at least 10 would be switched on this month.
Mr Hameli said 80 air-conditioned shelters would be installed on the island by October and 550 by the end of 2010. Previously, the department had said it would open 170 shelters this summer, some of which would be air-conditioned. The first with air-conditioning was opened in November near the Central Bank building on Bainunah Street. It has eight seats and standing room for 16 people. Mr al Hameli has said in the past that all 550 shelters would have air conditioning and keep the same specifications as that first shelter.
The capital now has nine bus routes; by the end of next year the DoT plans to have 1,360 buses running on up to 150 local, regional and inter-city routes. mchung@thenational.ae
