2,280 hybrid taxis in Dubai by 2021: Al Tayer

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has approved the five-year plan of the Dubai Taxi Corporation Projects & Investment Initiatives 2016-2021.

The plan serves the strategic goals of the RTA to provide advanced transit systems capable of bringing happiness to users.

"The five-year plan envisages beefing-up the fleet of the Dubai Taxi Corporation (DTC) by more than 40 per cent as the number is set to rise from 5,000 cabs in 2015 to 7,000 cabs by 2021.

“The number of limousines is set to leapfrog by as much as 340 per cent from 113 vehicles in 2015 to 500 vehicles by 2021.

“The larger number of taxicabs is required to cater to the growing needs of customers comprising residents and visitors as well as the requirements of hosting the Expo 2020 in Dubai,” Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the RTA, said.

"The plan covers converting 50 per cent of taxicabs into hybrid vehicles by 2021 as part of a master plan to curb carbon emissions in the taxi sector by 2 per cent as stipulated by the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and Green Economy transition.

“This step is prompted by the deregulation of fuel prices, and the reduced lifespan of hybrid vehicles compared with conventional vehicles.

“Thus, the number of hybrid vehicles at the disposal of the DTC would soar from 145 in 2015 to 2,280 vehicles in 2021," Al Tayer added.

School transport

"The RTA is determined to overhaul the school transport sector with a view to offering safe and smooth mobility for all students of various ages, and playing a leading role in delivering premium transit services for students in a safe environment.

“Our intention is also to encourage parents to have their wards transported by school buses rather than private vehicles, support the UAE education strategy 2020, improve the calibre of school transport service in Dubai, and strike a balance between supply and demand in the sector.

“The DTC’s 5-year plan includes a new bundle of programmes and initiatives to improve the school transport services that it runs, by supplying the fleet with new eco-friendly buses fitted with sophisticated technologies corresponding to the smart government initiative, and cutting-edge means of safety and security.

Accordingly, the number of school buses in operation would rise from 117 in 2015 to more than 650 buses by 2021, reflecting an increase of more than 450 per cent," explained Al Tayer.

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