RTA & Dubai Police To Step Up Cooperation To Boost Roads & Transport Safety

HE Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), has held a coordinative meeting with HE Major General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police. The meeting discussed the Dubai Traffic Safety Strategy and future projects the RTA is set to undertake in support of Dubai hosting Expo 2020.

At the start of the meeting, which took place at RTA’s premises, Al Tayer welcomed Al Marri and stressed the importance of holding coordinative meetings between the two parties to enhance cooperation and develop a common approach & perspective to a variety of issues. According to Al Tayer, “Such issues are highlighted by improved traffic safety, smooth flow of traffic across the Emirate and enhanced safety of public transit means in the interest of citizens and residents of Dubai. These meetings are part of channels used by the two parties to develop common viewpoints and act in a team spirit.”

Al Marri praised the existing coordination between the two entities noting that the RTA and Dubai Police are amongst the biggest Government Departments in Dubai. “Both parties share a wide range of roles & responsibilities that serve the strategic objectives & goals of the Dubai Government. Their cooperation is a role model for others to emulate in serving the common business without interfering in the specialist jobs of each party. This sort of coordination is bound to complement & improve the services provided by the two departments to citizens & residents of the Emirate,” added Al Marri.

The meeting reviewed the Traffic Safety Strategy charted by the RTA; which is aligned with the world’s best practices in countries like Sweden, UK, Australia and Canada. The Strategy is built on four pillars, namely: driver, road, vehicle, and systems & management. The meeting also reviewed the structure of teams and committees formed by the RTA to cater to Expo 2020 projects; which are affiliated to the Higher Committee of Roads & Transport for Hosting Expo. Discussions covered projects undertaken by the RTA to support Expo along with the deadlines set for such projects, and the coordination process with Expo Office.

RTA plans feature a portfolio of projects such as Route 2020 for the extension of the Red Line of Dubai Metro to the site of Expo 2020, the Enterprise Command & Control Center, upgrading Al Yalyes Street and Airport Street, and roads network around the site of Expo. Projects also include the integrating transport systems in Expo surroundings, procuring a new bus fleet, and constructing bus stations a bus depot as well as the Traffic Control Center at Al Barsha.

The meeting also discussed adding a representative from the Dubai Police to the Higher Committee of Roads & Transport, and coordinating a visit by a team of Dubai Police to RTA’s Enterprise Command & Control Center to assess the office space required by the Dubai Police. Discussions also covered providing training to Police personnel in the Center and providing security protection to the Enterprise Command & Control Center and other control centres.

From the Dubai Police General HQ attended Major General Dr.Abdul Quddus Al Obaidly, Director of the General Administration of TQM. Attendees from the RTA included Eng. Metha bin Udai, CEO of Traffic & Roads Agency, Hussain Al Banna, Executive Director of Traffic at Traffic & Roads Agency, and a host of Directors.