Marina, JLT residents decry lack of bus services

Dubai is a city hot over wheels. Many residents may opt to drive but there are also large sections who rely on public transport.

Feeder buses and metro services are a huge relief to this group of residents.

Dubai Marina was built to create an awe-inspiring city-within-a city experience for residents. Marina and Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) were touted to be prime locations in Dubai.

But residents, visitors and those working in these two localities complain that there are few, or no, feeder bus services provided by the RTA.

Sharon, an Indian, who lives in JLT says she has to walk down the footbridge of JLT metro station and come to the other side of Dubai Marina to catch a bus.

"But this wait is still better since I at least get a bus this side. In JLT I don't even get that," she says.

The RTA customer service representative confirmed Sharon's story and informed that there was not a single bus plying in JLT.

That explains why Dexter, a Filipino, also crosses JLT metro footbridge to Dubai Marina to catch his bus.

Talking to 'Emirates24|7' Essa Abdulrahman Al Dossary, CEO Public Transport Agency, RTA said, "We went to survey the JLT area to find out the need of any bus services. But we did not receive any feedback. We are willing to extend all sorts of facility".

In Dubai Marina there is only one bus, F37, which caters to the entire locality.

This bus provides services only to the outer ring of Marina road whereas the inner circle has no bus facility at all. Marina houses almost 110,000 people in residential towers and villas.

Om from Nepal says, "A bus in the inner circle will help us a lot. We won't have to walk till the metro every time".

Malli, a Sri Lankan house maid walks to her work place since she feels "waiting for bus is a waste of time and bus does not go in the inner circle where I work."

Al Dossary said, "We are willing to do as much as possible but developers and the residents should communicate the need to us".

Anne, a German, who lives in Al Qusais visits her friends on Jumeirah beach road.

She prefers walking because the bus is not frequent enough.

F37 comes after every 20mins which she believes is a long time. Sometimes it may take more than half an hour of wait.

Visitors like Maggi and Karen from Lebanon, who are put up at a hotel in the Marina say, "Frequent buses are necessary since it's too hot to walk in the summers."

"We did not receive any fax or email stating the need, if and when we get we will definitely resolve the problem. Also the area has many residents who travel by their own vehicle there is shortage of demand for bus," says Al Dossary.

He added, "Places like Karama and Bur Dubai constitute 10 to 15 per cent of our total commuters. So buses are more frequent there.”

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.