Dubai’s RTA to boost taxi fleet by 40% to 7000 by 2021

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority has revealed a new five-year plan that will see the emirate’s taxi fleet grow 40 per cent by 2021, it announced on Saturday.

Under the plan, the fleet of the Dubai Taxi Corporation (DTC) is set to increase from 5000 in 2015 to 7000 by 2021.

The number of limousines is also slated to rise by 340 per cent from 113 vehicles in 2015 to 500 vehicles by 2021.

“The increase in the number of taxicabs is required to cater to the growing needs of customers comprising residents and visitors as well as the requirements of hosting the Expo 2020 in Dubai,” said RTA director general and chairman Mattar Al Tayer.

The plan will also see 50 per cent of the taxicabs converted into hybrid vehicles by 2021.

This is part of the target to cut carbon emissions in the taxi sector by 2 per cent as stipulated by the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and the green economy transition, said Al Tayer.

“This step is prompted by the deregulation of fuel prices, and the reduced lifespan of hybrid vehicles compared with conventional vehicles. Thus, the number of hybrid vehicles at the disposal of the DTC would soar from 145 vehicles in 2015 to 2280 vehicles in 2021,” he added.

Also read: Dubai government to buy new electric and hybrid cars

The RTA also plans to “overhaul” the school transport sector to encourage parents to send their children by school buses rather than private vehicles, it said.

A new bundle of programme and initiatives will be introduced to improve the school transport services run by the DTC through supplying the fleet with eco-friendly buses fitted with sophisticated technologies and safety and security means.

The number of school buses in operation will also be hiked by 450 per cent from 117 buses in 2015 to more than 650 buses by 2021, said Al Tayer.

“The plan also covers improving the recently launched customer relation management system and finalising the initial phase of upgrading smart apps project by enabling limousine booking service via DTC Limo App, or dialing the customer care centre number (042080555),” he stated.

Phase II covers developing smart apps for all DTC services.

“The five-year plan 2016-2021 also encompasses developing land plots owned by DTC through constructing commercial outlets to help support future expansion plans,” Al Tayer stated.

Recently the DTC released a tender to appoint a consultant to study and respond to its future needs and open new business options to diversify its sources of commercial income.

“The plan calls for introducing smart systems to tow vehicles in emergency cases to enable responding to reports of vehicle breakdown on roads. The system would streamline the traffic flow, fend off bottlenecks and accidents and improve the traffic safety level,” added Al Tayer.