I refer to your editorial Breakdown can provide a lesson for the Dubai Metro (August 14) and the responses of readers to it. One reader said that the RTA was inadequately prepared for such a contingency (Trains will always fail, but rescue systems must not, August 17). That's not true.
The RTA has well-developed Service Contingency Plans. That was evident in this incident as all passengers were evacuated safely, even though the officials had to deal with a number of passengers who needed medical assistance.
The Dubai Metro is designed to ensure that any delay is kept to a minimum and in the vast majority of cases, passengers could not see or realise the faults. This case was an exception. However, about 1,110 taxis and 39 buses were deployed to help the affected commuters.
Furthermore, the Metro’s control centre is equipped with a state-of-the-art system, which not only provides real-time information on thousands of aspects of the Metro’s operation, but in most cases it also provides automatic redundancy so that failures are invisible to Metro users. The control centre can communicate directly with trains and, in this case, frequent announcements had been made in the effected train, as well as in the rest of the Metro system.
Incidents such as this one are tackled regularly in drills, so that the staff are familiar with the procedures and know what to do in such circumstances.
Fiona D'Cunha, Senior Editor, Media and Communications, Roads and Transport Authority, Dubai
Report on driving clears doubt
I refer to the news report Dubai Police catch 125 vehicles with concealed licence plates (August 22). Recently I called the police to report a dangerous driver, but they said the number plate was wrong. Now I understand it.
I was driving right behind the lorry and my eyesight has never failed me. I regret for not being able to take a photo.
Name withheld by request
Address the cause of the problem
I refer to your editorial UAE bachelors need somewhere to live (August 20). The authorities need to understand why it is happening before embarking on the "operation clean-up". It's happening because salaries are static, while the cost of living is skyrocketing.
Muhammad F Razi, Abu Dhabi
Why should all emulate the West?
I refer to Amrit Dhillon's opinion article Indian youth may appear modern, but they are resisting real change (August 20). Besides the number of wrong, opinionated data (with regard to Indians not having a spark, that they are boring and that they do not campaign and protest against any wrong), the article seems to be aimed at making everybody conform to the "western" way of living. But I ask myself: is being "western" the only and right way of being? I guess the answer is "no". I am a parent of teenagers and believe that it is very important to have some balance in our ways of thinking and behaving. Moreover, being "old fashioned" has, in some cases, proven to be beneficial.
The writer has also not taken into consideration the circumstances under which certain “boring” children try to become successful in their careers. The opportunities that European children get are quite different from those in India. Indian children do their best with what they get.
Clemy Fernandes, India
Recycling efforts must accelerate
I have been in Dubai for the past two years. Throughout this period, I have been concerned with the lack of recycling facilities in most of the residential buildings I have visited. Everything is thrown down a rubbish chute and mixed.
When I tried to raise this issue with the management of my building, I was told that a paper recycling scheme was being tested in another tower. But even after four months, I have not seen any signs of action being taken. My recent inquiry met with the same response. A project that takes four months to test is not an effective or efficient one.
Moreover, it’s apparent that nothing is being done. If Dubai is to create a sustainable environment, it needs to start at the individual level. That means to ensure that each residential tower in the city has a basic waste-disposal facility.
Joe M Jackson, Dubai
