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RTA Plans Legislation for Smooth Operation of Dubai Metro

Speaking on the sidelines of the MoU signing ceremony between the RTA and UK’s Office of Rail Regulation (ORR), Amair Saleem, the Director of Safety and Planning Department at the Strategy and Corporate Governance, said that the legislation has been planned to ensure that the Dubai Metro functions punctually and without any discrepancies.

The Red Line of the Metro will be operated by Serco, an international company based in the United Kingdon.

The company will operate and maintain the Red Line, according to the recently signed contract.

SMRT Engineering, the company which will operate the Palm Monorail, will also be under the legislation, the official said.

“The legislation to be passed soon will include a set of fines and penalties for those operators who do not undertake their job in a proper way,” Saleem said. He asserted that the security and safety features of Dubai Metro are “fool-proof and concrete.”

The RTA-ORR MoU will focus on the certification and regulation of the Metro to ensure passengers’ safety, Mattar Al Tayer, the Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA said.

“Safety and security are essential ingredients in all components of the Metro Project. The Organisational Chart of the RTA encompasses an independent department to cater for safety under the umbrella of Strategy and Corporate Governance Sector, which was designated as Safety Regulation and Planning Department and tasked to oversee safety planning, policies, licensing, regulation, accident investigation, audiing, and monitoring.”

“RTA has also established two departments of Quality, Health, Safety and Environment (QHSE) at Traffic and Roads Agency and Rail Agency, over and above the QHSE Offices affiliated to other RTA agencies.” said Al Tayer.

He added that RTA has opted to provide top-class safety standards for the Dubai Metro Project at four levels starting with the Contractor, followed by the Consultant, RTA experts and Lloyds Co., the independent safety surveyor of Dubai Metro Project.

As per the MoU, which is valid for two years and will be automatically renewed, ORR will undertake the certification and regulation of the rail network to ensure public safety.

It will also be responsible for development and implementation of health and safety regulation with inspection and enforcement powers.

The ORR will support the RTA regulations of railways in Dubai, establish rail databases and train the RTA staff. “RTA opted to sign a MoU with ORR in recognition of the over 150 years of railway safety experience enjoyed by ORR,” Al Tayer said.

· joy@khaleejtimes.com

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