Metro to add Red Line station on 12/12/12

Jafza commuters hail facility which is expected to serve at least 10,000 people daily

Dubai: The Danube Metro station, which is the 28th station on the Red Line of Dubai Metro, will herald a world of convenience for workers and residents of Jebel Ali Freezone Authority (Jafza), a senior official said.

The Jebel Ali Industrial station, which was recently renamed Danube station after the popular building materials firm bought the naming rights from the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), will open for the public on 12/12/12.

Danube station provides direct access to commuters living and working in the freezone enclave which is home to 6,800 international firms and around 170,000 people who either reside or work there.

Ebrahim Al Janahi, Deputy CEO of Jafza, commenting on the opening of the new station said: “The opening of the 2nd Metro station in Jafza will further facilitate 50,000 persons living in the staff accommodation in Jafza and almost the same number of daily Jafza commuters to use this most efficient and hassle-free mode of transportation. By using Metro, Jafza commuters are and will be contributing their bit in reducing carbon emission.”

Commending Danube for their initiative in partnering with RTA, Al Janahi said: “The Metro station is named after Danube, one of our most dynamic companies. The naming reinforces Jafza companies’ deep commitment to the UAE and its enlightened leadership’s vision to make the country one of the best in the world. Jafza companies together contribute more than 21 per cent to Dubai’s GDP year-on-year basis.”

Danube Group’s chairman, Rizwan Sajan, speaking exclusively with Gulf News said: “It gives immense pleasure to me to serve people. I feel if we are able to make a small difference to people’s live our purpose is served, our idea is to add as much convenience to people’s lives as possible.”

He thanked RTA and Dubai’s leadership for accepting Danube as a partner.

Apart from officials, residents and workers from Jafza who regularly commute by the Metro and have been eagerly awaiting the opening of the new station, have hailed the decision.

“I use Dubai Metro daily for my journey to and from work, but it wasn’t easy as I had to take buses from Ibn Battuta station; most people in Jafza using Metro had to face such difficulties but this station will really help all of us,” said Nancy D’Costa, who works for a logistics firm which is located just a few hundred metres from the station.

As usual, RTA is planning to deploy a huge number of feeder buses along various routes, though the exact numbers were not available.

“I urge RTA to have a wide network of feeder routes inside Jafza connecting Danube station so that it is convenient for all; our offices are located a few kilometres away from the station and if they have regular feeder buses it will really help all of us,” said Ahmad Basheer, who works for a shipping firm.

The new station is expected to bring on at least 10,000 new daily commuters to the already popular rail network which currently boasts a daily passenger volume of around 300,000.

The 52.1-kilometre Red Line has a total of 29 stations. The last station — Energy — which is also located in Jebel Ali, is yet to open for service.

The much shorter Green Line, covering a total distance of 23 kilometres, boasts 20 stations including two it shares with the Red Line, namely the Burjuman and Union stations. In all, 18 Green Line stations are currently functional. Al Jaddaf and Creek stations are yet to open for the public.