DUBAI, 2nd July, 2016 (WAM) -- The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai has set out a comprehensive plan for managing the traffic movement and services of mass transit means as part of preparations for Eid al-Fitr holiday.

The objective is to serve the needs of the public transport and road users, and deliver the best in class services providing all travelers with safe & smooth mobility aboard public or private transit means in the Emirate.

Explaining the plan, engineer Metha bin Adai, CEO of RTAs Traffic and Roads Agency cum Head of the team responsible for the management of traffic movement & the handling of operational plans during annual events, said, "RTA had prepared operational plans for serving commuters during the holiday of Eid al-Fitr, which always experiences traffic congestion.

In Burj Khalifa district, the plan includes the installation of 43 directional signs to guide motorists to internal roads of the Business Bay leading up to the Sheikh Zayed Road & Al Khail Road to ease the pressure on the Financial Center Street.

It also includes the installation of temporary signs to direct road users to Zabeel bridges (Al Saada Street) leading to Burj Khalifa from Sheikh Rashid Street. To ensure the smooth traffic flow during peak hours, the light signals on the Financial Center Street would be monitored and controlled to achieve the optimal traffic flow possible."To streamline the services of buses and taxis, Metha reported that RTA would make available the largest possible number of taxis in the pick-up and drop-off areas of Dubai Mall.

"Additional taxis will be deployed at the Dubai World Trade Center as an alternative venue to use when the demand for taxi service in the mall builds up during peak hours. The Dubai Taxi Corporation has agreed with franchise companies to operate more than 90 per cent of the taxi fleet in full capacity during Eid days. 65 additional buses would be provided, and five buses would be operated on the proposed route from Dubai Mall to the Trade Center.

The bus service (C01) would remain operational 24/7 to serve Airport Terminal 3, A1 Union Metro Station, A1 Al Fahidi Metro Station, and 1 Satwa Mosque. There is an area designated as bus stop at the Address Hotel, and the RTA would activate an alternative plan for these buses to park at Burj Khalifa Station in case it becomes difficult to access the Hotel area during peak hours," she noted.

"A programme is currently underway for undertaking preventive maintenance and cleaning Eid Prayers, mosques, bridges & underpasses. A particular attention would be for washing main tunnels & metal rail of bridges, removing dust & solid deposits on pavements especially at bridges, washing footbridges, and cleaning directional signage at main roads of the Emirate. A technical team comprising engineers and inspectors of the Roads Maintenance Department has coordinated with the Traffic and Roads Departments a survey of areas around Eid prayers to take necessary action for carrying out any emergency repairs during the end of the holy month of Ramadan," added Metha.

Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2016.