Abu Dhabi government has announced the completion of a new bus station built at a cost of Dh37 million ($10.07 million) in Al Ain region.

The new Al Ain central bus station is divided into two main sections, namely the building section that houses administrative offices, passengers’ waiting hall, praying area and shops, and the parking section which includes parking bays for buses and staff vehicles, said a statement from the Abu Dhabi Department of Transport (DoT).

The new facility can handle up to 62 buses per hour.

The station was constructed as an architectural interpretation of the Arabic tent with natural colors that reflect the general landscape of Al Ain Oasis. Moreover, the height of the station’s roof was designed to be lower than the palm trees surrounding the area, it stated.

The new facility has been designed with a capacity that covers the current fleet of buses along with any potential increase in the size of buses.

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, the ruler's representative in the Eastern region inaugurated the bus station in the presence of senior government officials.

The new station’s site was meticulously selected to allow smooth access and use by the passengers, and to enhance the downtown surrounding area by providing a stylish image of public transport, said the DoT statement.

The DoT completed the construction work at the station as per the highest standards of quality and operational efficiency through application of sustainable methods to reduce energy consumption and create environment friendly facilities.

Among the most important sustainable methods is the station roof, which is designed with a double cloth fabric to cover the waiting area hall. This special fabric contains a layer of "Nanogel" that allows natural sunlight to enter, while blocking sun heat, said the statement.

This technology leads to reducing electricity needed to power air conditioning and therefore reducing the operational cost of the station, it added.

The Al Ain bus station project has already won recognition making it to the Top 3 lists of firms which are vying for the Middle East and Africa Interior Design and Architecture Award in 2015 for the best government building/facility of the year.-TradeArabia News Service