DoT plans to regulate mini buses in Capital

The Executive Council of Abu Dhabi has approved a Department of Transport (DoT) proposal to conduct a field study to help regulate mini bus transportation managed by private establishments.

The Executive Council of Abu Dhabi, the emirate’s supreme governing body, has approved a Department of Transport (DoT) proposal to conduct a field study to help regulate mini bus transportation managed by private establishments.

Most of the small buses managed by private companies are being contracted to transport school children and labourers, and are unwatched.

With the new regulation coming into force, DoT will bring all these buses managed by small companies and individuals under a streamlined regulation. They will have to stick to a certain code of conduct that will be issued later.

Currently, most of the Abu Dhabi private school buses are hired from individuals and private transport companies, with no safety and care for children. They are not yellow and cannot be differentiated from buses that transport contracting company workers.

The council discussed the issue at its last meeting on Wednesday chaired by Mohammed Ahmad AL Bowardi, EC Secretary-General.

Under the proposal, the department will sign an agreement with Sa’ed, the outsourced company of the Traffic Department of Abu Dhabi that has stretched its wings to Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain, to help regulate these buses.

According to EC, the contract with Sa’ed Traffic System also aims to manage and regulate vehicle parking areas in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, which will facilitate monitoring procedures conducted by DoT. “The project will regulate small bus transportation and seeks to introduce safe and secure means of transportation for residents in the Emirate by creating a well-organised sector that follows high performance standards,” the council said.

The project, according to EC, will help cover a wide range of underserved areas when it comes to pubic transportation. The council further agreed to projects submitted by the Abu Dhabi Environment, Health and Safety Management System (EHSMS) regarding the implementation of the Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) systems in the transportation and health sectors.

The implementation of EHS system in the transportation sector will contribute significantly in minimising the number of casualties and accidents, in addition to increasing efficiency across sea, land, and air transportation. This will reduce the total medical treatment costs within the sector, establish a sound work environment, and help conserve the environment and natural resources in addition to creating new jobs for Emiratis in the field of control and inspection.

During the meeting, they also approved a project submitted by the Department of Municipal Affairs (DMA) – Al Ain, concerning Phase III of the infrastructure project for the new University City in Al Ain.

The Executive Committee also discussed a number of important topics and memoranda listed on its agenda that were submitted by other government departments in Abu Dhabi.

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• UAE