Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA) has called on all entities operating in the construction field to cooperate in the implementation of the Executive Council Resolution (1)/2017 governing railway systems in the UAE emirate.

Abdul Mohsen Ibrahim Younes, CEO of RTA’s Rail Agency, said: “The resolution aims to streamline the railway systems to bring them in line with the safety and quality standards required as well as the highest global practices of the industry. It ensures the integration of various mass transit systems in the emirate and defines the respective roles and responsibilities of the agency and the safety regulator to ensure the efficient and safe operation of the railway systems.”

“The new resolution aims to realise maximum safety and safe operation of railway transport, provide advanced and safer transit systems, protect the environment and maintain the natural ecological balance, and realise the vision of Dubai as a sustained and smart city.

“It also seeks to avert any losses or negative effects, immediate or in the long run, inflicted on humans and properties because of the operation of railway systems,” he added.

“To realise the objectives of this resolution, RTA assumes a host of tasks such as planning, designing and upgrading the railway network in Dubai as well as regulating the construction, improvement, operation and maintenance of the network in the emirate. It also endorses the stipulations, procedures, controls, standards, specifications and manuals applied by the agency and the safety regulator, and also endorses the conditions and procedures upon which the agency and the safety regulator issue certificates as stated in this resolution.
 
“The resolution delegates to RTA the powers of ensuring that certificates issued by the agency and the safety regulator as well as investigations carried out by inspectors are free from any conflict of interests. It also has to ensure that such investigations are carried out independently of owners, operators, contractors and other personnel associated with the provisions of this resolution.

“It has to ensure the cooperation of the parties concerned in the emirate as well as neighbouring emirates in all matters that meet the objectives of this resolution including the integration of railway systems and other transit modes. It has to make contracts and agreements relating to railway systems, and take appropriate measures to protect it. It also has to define areas designated as right-of-way for the railway network and surrounding areas including the endorsement of restricted activities, and endorse the policies, plans and programs submitted by the agency and the safety regulator,” added Mohsen.

Compensation for losses

The resolution prohibits any person to practice any activity that may cause damage to the railway network or expose it to danger, or cause harm to the environment or other damages, because of exceeding the thresholds of noise and vibrations. The offender has to bear the responsibility for damages in respect of all losses incurred.

According to the resolution, the said losses include losses inflicted to individuals, properties, the environment and the restricted use, be it temporary or permanent. The offender has to remove the offence during the period specified by RTA, and in the event of failure, RTA may remove the offence, whether by its resources or through the support of a third party, at the expenses of the offender. The offender has also to pay 25 per cent of the removal cost as administrative fees. – TradeArabia News Service