Metro to run 24 hours for New Year celebrations

With over 100,000 revellers expected to descend on the city’s hottest spots on December 31 to ring in New Year, Dubai Metro will be on hand to ensure a smooth passage across Dubai with a one-off 24-hour service.

With The Dubai Mall and the Burj Khalifa playing host to a frenzy of New Year’s celebrations, including a spectacular fireworks display spouting from the world’s tallest building, community members, visitors and tourists from all corners of the globe will have one less thing to worry about, thanks to the launch of the additional round-the-clock Metro service by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

Ahmed Mohammed Al Hammadi, head of the team behind the launch, said the Metro will be operating from 6am on December 31 through to January 1, 2013.

Authorities are expecting to lift more than 132,000 passengers on that day with the service running at 2.5-minute frequencies during peak hours, and eight minutes during off-peak hours.

Saleem Abdalla, a representative from the RTA, told Khaleej Times: “Four stations will be closed that day (December 31). Financial Centre, Business Bay, Emirates Tower and Burj Khalifa. People can exit the station but they will not be able to enter.”

He said the closure of these stations is to alleviate passenger traffic: “Lots of celebrations are happening in these areas, including a big fireworks display, so we close these stations to prevent crowds gathering in one area.”

Additional parking spaces will also be provided in the night, with 2,000 spaces opening up at the Dubai World Trade Centre and a further 8,000 being utilised from Meydan’s parking facilities.

Al Hammadi stressed that 20 directional signage will be erected to steer the public in the direction of these additional locations, with shuttle buses on site to transport them to the celebratory events in the city.

“During big celebrations, the RTA often run a 24-hour service. During the Eid period this year, with ran a (72-hour) service. We estimate that the busiest period on this day (December 31) will be between 12am and 3am when people are on their way home,” Abdalla said.

To mitigate vehicular congestion on the Financial Centre Road, extra signage will be set in place to encourage road users to use local roads in the Business Bay district in order to gain access to Shaikh Zayed Road.

The Boulevard Road will be closed at 6pm to avoid traffic build-up on the approach of the fireworks display, as well as to leave the road clear for the traffic exiting the venue once celebrations are over.

Special entry points will be designated for VIPs, restaurant visitors and those who had prior booking arrangements and one lane will be kept open for the exclusive use of emergency and police vehicles.

The RTA has designated lanes exclusively for taxis on the eve of New Year and they have endorsed additional overflow parking at etisalat at Jafliah, World Trade Centre and Meydan to ensure the deployment of a sufficient number of taxicabs as soon as possible.

Al Hammadi said that taxis are expected to see floods of around 93,000 passengers on December 31, with an estimated 53,000 trips being made. Metro station feeder buses are also slated to lift 15,000 passengers.

Nol cards will be on sale through a deployment of 24 tents at Emaar in the days leading up to the events in order to encourage New Year well-wishers to use public transport. - news@khaleejtimes.com

Shuttle Bus Services:

10 at Burj Khalifa Station

10 at the Financial Center Station

10 at the Business Bay Station

Six at World Trade Center

Four at Meydan

Buses will be operating round-the-clock in conjunction with the metro operation and commuting on 9 routes