• Home

Call for comprehensive public transport policy

SHARJAH — The importance of having a comprehensive policy for public transport network between Sharjah and Dubai to facilitate the traffic movement and satisfy the needs of the public in both the emirates, is among the recommendations of the Ninth Sharjah Urban Planning and Symposium (SUPS) which concluded in Sharjah yesterday.

At the concluding session, the 400 participants from 30 countries presented several recommendations including the importance of providing more considerations and concern to the public and green squares in the emirate.

The participants who presented 100 papers during the SUPS sessions hailed the Sharjah government's initiatives in launching the Consultative Council, Executive Council and Municipalities Council.

The symposium which was organised under the theme "Territorial Outlook and Sustainable Development: Globalisation, Devolution, and the Challenge of Governance" stressed the importance of implementing its recommendations presented in its last 8th round regarding developing the cities and villages infrastructure to attract investment.

The participants also recommended the importance of making efforts to cope with digital revolution by using its mechanisms in various urban development fields and improving of training and education in the field of Information technology, giving priority to environment planning to avoid the natural disasters.

They hailed the initiative of establishing earthquake monitor centre at American University of Sharjah and intensifying studies and research in tracking the natural disaster.

The recommendations also include the concerns for road planning , transport and implementing the solutions of Traffic problem not only in Sharjah emirate but the whole country.

During the concluding day of the SUPS, Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qassimi International Prize for the Best International Paper in Urban Planning presented to Dr Mustafa Al Hawe, Director of Planning and Development section at University of Aqsa, Gaza Strip Palastine. Dr Al Hawe presented a paper on Public Participation is important fact in Permanent planning of the Waste treatment location.

The Municipality of Sharjah Prize in the GCC Author Category was presented to Dr Nadir Azb, Professor of Planning and Development at the University of Bahrain.

Speaking to Khaleej Times Dr Obaid Al Tunaiji, Director-General Of Sharjah Department of Planning and Town Survey (SCULPTS), said that participants shed light on a variety of urban planning problems and approaches, and offered solution of critical issues facing urban areas.

The session on the third day (Tuesday) discussed the emerging role of municipalities with a focus on the case of Sharjah and the effects of petroleum depletion on urban planning in the post-oil cities.

• UAE