Will Dubai Metro pass through Discovery Gardens?

Discovery Gardens could possibly be linked to the network of Dubai Metro if plans of a Metro extension through the area to reach the Expo Site go ahead.

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has been studying various options for the extension of the Red Line to the Expo site, and a line linking to Discovery Garden, the Green Community and Dubai Investment Park has been one of the options often referred to as favourable by transportation specialists.

The inland-option has been preferred according to Meed magazine, which published a report claiming that a preferred alignment had now been selected.

“It will run from the Nakheel Harbour & Tower station area through a utility corridor alongside Discovery Gardens and onto the Expo site, passing Dubai Investments Park,” Meed wrote, citing ‘sources close to the scheme’.

The RTA has not confirmed the selection of a preferred line, but said a decision towards the route would be taken this year.

Earlier, the same magazine had claimed that the line would run along a utility corridor between Nakheel’s Discovery Gardens and Jumeirah Island developments, serving a series of stations.

According to Meed, bid documents are expected to be issued to contractors in July, after expressions of interest are sought during the first quarter of 2015.

Discovery Garden, a popular community with relatively low rent prices is currently not connected to the Metro network. The nearest Metro station is Ibn Batuta Mall, from where feeder buses serve the community.

Traffic snarls in and around the area however indicate the need for a permanent solution to the growing population in this part of Dubai. Although a new access road promised to be opened in April this year will provide one such solution, an improved connection to the public transportation network would without a doubt serve its residents.

The Metro extension to the Expo site has been announced to be realised as soon as 2019. Among the options have been three alternatives suggesting a Metro link either passing by, or cutting through Jebel Ali Free Zone.

Until recently, the fourth option indicated a diversion of the Red Line at the height of Dubai Marina, heading land inwards passing Jumeirah Park and the International Media Production Zone, running parallel to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road. The suggested link to Discovery Garden would form an alteration of the last option, cutting through the same area diagonally instead.

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