Dubai Metro has saved about 1 billion car journeys since its launch in 2009, the Roads and Transport Authority director general said.
Mattar Al Tayer, who is also chairman of the board of executive directors of the authority, said the metro had reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 2.6 million tonnes, with the cumulative financial benefits amounting to Dh115 billion.
“The metro network, which spans 74 kilometres, had been completed in just four years. The total length of the rail network is about 101km,” said Mr Al Tayer, during the main session of the Dubai International Project Management Forum that is being held under the theme: Sustainability in Mobility Projects.
He also spoke about numerous projects, as well as plans to boost public and environmentally friendly transport and increase the proportion of sustainable journeys.
“Besides mass transit means comprising the metro, tram and buses, mobility systems include taxi e-hail services, smart car rental [shared transport] services, bus-on-demand services, bike and scooter rental services, besides expanding the use of smart technologies,” he said.
“For instance, the Nol card can be used in paying for purchases made at 12,000 retail outlets, besides [granting holders] entry to Dubai’s public parks and museums."
Other speakers included Anne-Marie Idrac, France's former transport minister, who spoke about the future of mass transport.
"Over the next few years, mobility is poised to experience rapid transformation, likewise e-shopping. We will see growing numbers of autonomous vehicles and expansion in non-conventional mass transit means,” she said.
“Sustainability means eco-friendly mobility in which transit means are powered by electricity and clean power. It also involves the use of smart technologies in public transport means such as the metro and tram.”
