Tag Archives: personality
12-lane Al Ittihad Bridge to replace Floating Bridge
12-lane Al Ittihad Bridge to replace Floating Bridge Staff Reporter / 9 February 2014 Contract for Etihad Bridge that will allow bulky ships to pass underneath to be awarded by year-end, says RTA An artist’s impression of the Etihad Bridge. -Supplied photo The Floating Bridge will be replaced with a 12-lane Etihad Bridge that will allow bulky ships to pass underneath, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced on Saturday. By the end of this year, the RTA will award a contract for constructing Etihad Bridge near the Dubai Creek Park and Dubai Courts on the Bur Dubai side, and near Deira City Centre and the Dubai Golf Club in Deira. The Dubai Tram project, which has a track extending 11km along Al Sufouh Street, could see its initial phase opened in November this year. Etihad Bridge, which will replace the existing Floating Bridge, comprises 12 lanes (six in each direction) in addition to a footpath in each direction. It measures 61.6 metres in width and has an arch that rises 100 metres. The bridge is set to provide free traffic movement in both directions and will allow free navigation round the clock as it rises 15 metres above the creek water level and has a 400 metre-wide navigation line, enabling the passage of bulky ships underneath. “The RTA will complete the construction of internal road projects in residential areas in accordance with the five-year plan (2012-2016) where a budget of Dh234 million is allocated for constructing internal roads in a number of residential communities in Dubai,” said Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director, RTA. “It will also work on the Parallel Roads Project supporting Shaikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road for which a budget of Dh398 million is being allocated. The portfolio of projects funded also include the Jumeirah Corniche Project at a cost of Dh70 million, widening of Al Qudra Road Project at a cost of Dh49 million, and the construction of the Union Gallery as well as the rehabilitation of the Union House at a total cost of Dh201 million.” He also said that the total expenditure budget approved for the RTA in 2014 was Dh7.036 billion, comprising operational budget of Dh3.156 billion and capital and projects budget estimated as Dh3.88 billion. “The aggregate anticipated revenues for this year is Dh5 billion, marking a 17 per cent increase over last year’s budget. The approved projects budget is estimated at Dh3.62 billion, which will be allocated for constructing around 99 projects; comprising 50 new projects to be undertaken in roads, marine transport and public transport sector, and 49 projects currently under way,” explained Al Tayer. He said: “Traffic and Roads Agency will get 36 per cent of the budget, 33 per cent will go to the Rail Agency, 13 per cent to the Public Transport Agency, 17 per cent to be shared between the Licensing Agency, Administrative Support Services Sector, and Technical Support Services Sector, and one per cent to the remaining agencies.” news@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Phenomenal Phinney clinches Dubai Tour victory
Phenomenal Phinney clinches Dubai Tour victory Alex Leach / 9 February 2014 Kittel claims final stage as American cyclist Taylor clinches Dubai Tour. Taylor Phinney of the BMC Racing Team poses with the trophy after claiming the overall honours at the end of the four-day inaugural Dubai Tour on Saturday. — KT photo by Rahul Gajjar Taylor Phinney came away with the blue and white jerseys of the inaugural Dubai Tour on Saturday here having prevailed outright in the general and young riders’ classifications respectively. The American won Thursday’s time trial, which effectively meant he would be assured of both of his eventual prizes if he finished the subsequent three races among the first peloton to cross the finish line. That is exactly what he did too to deny the likes of Lasse Norman Hansen (Denmark/Garmin Sharp), his team-mate Steven Cummings (Great Britain/BMC Racing) and Tony Martin (Germany/Omega Pharma – Quick-Step) in the main competition. Marcel Kittel (Germany/Giant-Shimano) claimed the red jersey in the points’ classification after his three stage successes, whereas Willem Jakobus Smit (South Africa/Vini Fantini-Nippo-De Rosa) took home the honours in the intermediate sprints. “I’m super honoured,” Phinney said. “I definitely owe this victory to the team, the MC and Andy Rihs for believing in me and this is a great start of the season for us at BMC (Racing). “I couldn’t be happier than to come here, win the first (time trial) stage and then have such great teamwork in stages two, three and four to cap off a great couple of days. I’m very happy to be the first winner. It’s a cool feeling.” Phinney’s triumph this early in the season also sets him and the rest of BMC Racing team up nicely for the rest of the year – one which could prove quite fruitful on this evidence. “I’ve come into the season for the last three years and always had some sort of issue – a knee injury or an illness – that didn’t allow me to be at my best,” he added. “This is the first year that I’m coming in and I’m really not playing catch-up at all, so it’s great to see that I can come in early season and win some races before the races that are really big. “It has been a stressful last couple of days, but it’s been a really good preparation for me going forward. “I couldn’t be happier to have won this race here. It’s definitely something that I thought I could do back when they released the profiles and the stages, so to come here and actually do it is a great feeling. I’m definitely relieved at the moment too. “Until now, I don’t think this team has entirely delivered the results we’re capable of, so this is a great start to the year and hopefully it can be the year that we really are able to thank Andy (Rihs) to the fullest.” alex@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Penalties for offering private tuitions in Sharjah
Penalties for offering private tuitions in Sharjah Afkar Abdullah / 6 February 2014 Sharjah Education Zone issues circular imposing tough penalties against teachers offering private tuitions. Private tuitions can affect the quality of education provided at schools and add to the financial burden of parents. — Photo used for illustrative purposes Following several complaints from parents about teachers offering private tuitions to students, the Sharjah Education Zone issued a circular imposing tough penalties against such teachers. Offering tuitions to students is strictly prohibited by the Ministry of Education, as it affects the quality of education provided at schools and adds more financial burden on parents. Some teachers reportedly force students to inform their parents that they would have to take tuition classes citing lack of time to complete the syllabus in class. Mona Shuhail, Deputy Director of the Sharjah Education Zone, said they received several complaints from parents about tuitions being offered to their children in private schools. Based on the regulations of the Ministry of Education, the authority issued the circular and distributed it to all private and public schools in Sharjah. The circular warned teachers that giving private tuitions would result in tough penalties including warnings, fines and dismissal. “The education zone recently fined some private schools which were found promoting private tuitions for its students after schools hours,” Shuhail said. If a teacher is found violating regulations, a written warning is first issued, and if the teacher repeats the offence, the zone instructs the school to terminate the teacher’s services. “The practice (of promoting tuitions), which is increasing at private schools, affects education development and the financial budgets of parents,” she said. Hessah Al Khajah, Director of Private Schools at the Sharjah Education Zone, said parents and teachers are equally responsible for the practice. Al Khajah urged schools managements to take all efforts to combat it so as to improve the quality of education. The zone had earlier introduced ‘education strengthening classes’ at a little extra charge to combat private tuitions. School principals Khaleej Times spoke to said “poor teaching processes” at some schools force parents to opt for private tuition classes. “Some parents can’t afford to pay for private tuitions in addition to the annual school fees,” one principal said. – afkarali@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
