Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority has announced that the Red Line of Dubai’s Metro will extend 15 km and add seven new stations from Nakheel Harbour and Tower to the site of Expo 2020, said a report.

The Red Line of Dubai’s Metro will extend 15 km and add seven new stations from Nakheel Harbour and Tower Metro Station to the site of Expo 2020, it was announced on Saturday.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, endorsed the Route 2020 project and directed that construction works commence immediately, reported The National.

He called upon authorities to complete the project on the fixed timeline to serve the needs of the expected demographic during the hosting of Expo 2020 Dubai, it stated.

Under this plan, the total length of the Dubai Metro lines (red and green) will increase to 90 km, and the total length of rail network in Dubai will be 101 km (90 km metro lines, 11 km tram lines).

The extended sector stretches 15 km (11 km elevated and four km underground) and includes seven stations, five of which are elevated and two are underground, the report added.

“The construction of Route 2020 project conforms to the strategic vision of the Dubai Government for achieving sustainable development, and developing a world-class infrastructure and services,” remarked Mattar Al Tayer, chairman of the board and executive director of the Roads and Transport Authority.

“It also comes as practical developing implementation of RTA’s Master Plan for providing multiple options of integrated mass transit means comprising the metro, tram, buses and water transport towards realizing RTA’s vision of Safe and Smooth Transport for All,” he stated.

The Route 2020 project will provide safe and smooth mobility to visitors of Expo 2020 as well as residents of the area, he added.

Al Tayer said it will serve those in and around the Gardens, Discovery Gardens, Furjan, Jumeirah Golf Estate, and the Dubai Investment Park, which are inhabited by about 240,000 people.
aa to the site of Expo will take 16 minutes, he added.

According to Al Tayer, the plan aims to achieve sustainability of the project and to link the Expo site with a number of vital projects and locations in the area.

The RTA has co-ordinated with all developers and government entities to work out the proposed paths of the metro and ensure that the project will support vital areas during the Expo 2020 and in the future, he stated.

As per the timeline set, the project is expected to be released for tendering next July, he added.