In this special feature, Khaleej Times brings to you detailed route maps of feeder buses, metro stations and parking sites near the Burj Khalifa for New Year’s Eve.
With more than one million people expected to take part in festivities, make sure to plan in advance to avoid getting stuck in the resident chaotic New Year’s Eve traffic jams
Getting to Downtown Dubai for New Year celebrations will be much easier this year with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) making special arrangements for visitors. Planning in advance and making use of the public transport facilities will be the easiest way to get to The Dubai Mall and viewing areas near the boulevard, to secure a spot to watch the magic of 2013’s first moments unfold.
Commuters using Dubai Metro can hop off at any of the four stations near the landmark – Business Bay, Burj Khalifa, Financial Centre or Emirates Towers.
Metro stations will be linked to Downtown Dubai by feeder buses running at regular intervals. A total of 40 feeder buses will be deployed to carry passengers from the metro stations to the Downtown area.
During peak hours, the RTA will run a metro every two and a half minutes as it expects more than 132,000 commuters during the day. Extra staff will be deployed at metro stations to ensure a smooth flow of crowds to and from the stations.
Metro services have been streamlined this year to allow people to get into the station faster, by dispensing with the Nol card ‘tag on’ at any of the four metro stations closest to the Burj Khalifa. Commuters will only need to tag off once they exit the metro stations — with the software charging the card back to the four zones.
Speaking with Khaleej Times, Ramadan Abdullah, Director of the Metro Trains Operation Department said: “After midnight, passengers will not have to use their Nol cards to get inside the station. All the four stations in the area are in the same zone and commuters will be charged accordingly when they checkout at their destination station.”
Last year, a number of people were waiting outside the metro station until late in the night as large crowds waited to use the metro services. The new system will reduce waiting times this year for people using the metro to get home.
Motorists using their own cars to reach the venue can expect road diversions and closures after 6pm, with Boulevard Road remaining closed after 6pm.
Drivers will be notified of diversions and overflow parking through the Virtual Messaging Signs which will direct road users in the event of any snarls, and display alerts when the mall parking is full. Special entry points will be designated for VIPs, restaurant visitors and those with booking arrangements.
The RTA has also made arrangements for a Park and Ride facility allowing people coming late to park their cars in dedicated parking areas near the World Trade Centre and Meydan. Feeder buses will pick up passengers from the parking area and take them to the bus holding area behind The Dubai Mall.
More than 10,000 parking spaces will be available in these parking lots so people can avoid traffic congestion when returning to their homes. Six buses will serve the parking at Trade Centre and four additional buses will carry passengers from the parking at Meydan. These buses will operate even after midnight to ensure people are dropped back to their cars.
After the celebrations are over, people can also benefit from special midnight bus services. Three routes will drop passengers from the bus parking in The Dubai Mall to Ibn Battuta, Rashidiya and Bur Juman metro stations.
Nol cards will be made available for purchase at 24 tents near Burj Khalifa encouraging more people to use public transit means.
During the day, taxis are expected to lift about 93,000 passengers, with a dedicated taxi lane providing easy access for taxis in the area.
The Dubai Mall parking will have space for 14,000 cars and is expected to fill-up early. Paid parking will be available at the Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard in P1, P2 and P3, priced at Dh100. Parking tickets must be purchased in advance from The Dubai Mall and Dubai Marina Mall Customer Service Desk.
The arrangements are designed to ensure a smooth flow of more than 1 million visitors who are expected to be a part of the celebrations in Dubai.
Source: Khaleej Times (Dubai).
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