Dubai Metro: Encyclopedia II - Dubai Metro - Construction

Dubai Metro - Construction

Plans for the Dubai Metro began under the directive of Dubai RulerSheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum who expected Dubai's other projects to attract 15 million visitors by 2010. This combined with Dubai's rapidly growing population expected to reach 3 million by 2017 and severe traffic congestion neccessitated the building of an urban rail system to provide additional capacity to public transportation, relieve motor traffic, and provide infrastructure for additional development.

The Preliminary Engineering Study for the project was completed in 2004 by Systra. In May 2005 DURL was awarded both the construction and maintenance contracts over bids by different consortia led by France's Alstom, Germany's Siemens, and Canada's Bombardier.

The first phase covering 35-kilometers of the proposed network, including the Red Line between Salahuddin Road and the American University in Dubai and the Green Line from the Dubai International Airport to Rashidiya Bus Station, is to be completed by May 2009. Extensions to both routes are included in the second phase, which is now expected to open by May 2012.

Dubai Municipality Public Transport Department projects to carry 1.2 million passengers on an average day, and 355 million passengers per year once both lines are fully operational. Bus routes and stops will be organised around the backbone provided by the rail system.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Construction", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki