Metro passenger numbers increase sharply

More than 33.34 million passengers used the red and green lines on the Dubai Metro in the first quarter of 2013, which was a significant increase on the corresponding period in 2012.New figures released by the Road and Transport Authority (RTA) confirmed the light railway is going from strength to strength, with the red line carrying a staggering 21.8 million people between January and March. Meanwhile, more than 11.5 million commuters travelled on the green line.Adnan Al Hammadi, chief executive officer of the RTA's Rail Agency said he was pleased with the statistics.”This is what we seek to achieve through our annual schemes by setting a diversified package of initiatives and activities that contribute to attracting all segments of society to use the Metro as the premier means of transportation, as it is secure, safe and luxurious at the same time,” he remarked.Deira City Centre Metro station reported the highest volume of traffic during the first quarter, as 1.64 million people travelled to and from this popular part of town.The green line's Al Fahidi station was also incredibly busy, with 1.37 million passengers using the facility over the three-month period.With so many people moving to Dubai on a permanent basis, it is important that the emirate's public transport infrastructure is up to scratch.A number of significant upgrades have been slated for the Metro system and these will increase the capacity of the transport network considerably.Building developers are erecting new residential properties on the outskirts of the city and the RTA is keen to ensure people who live a little further afield are able to travel into the heart of Dubai without any stress.Last month, the RTA revealed that new bus services would be introduced and some of these would act as feeder routes for the Metro. This will ensure more people will be able to reach the busy business districts and plethora of leisure facilities in the centre of town. Taylor Scott International