The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has unveiled the design and technical specifications of its eco-friendly school buses, to be operated by the Dubai Taxi Corporation (DTC) to offer transit services to students starting from the forthcoming academic year (2015-2016).

The DTC will launch the service with a total of 50 buses and expect the fleet to grow to 650 buses by 2024, said a Wam news agency report.

Mattar Al Tayer, director general and chairman of the board of executive directors of the RTA, accompanied by a host of executive directors and directors, inspected the bus to review its technical and technological specifications, it added.

Al Tayer was briefed by Ahmed Khalfan Al Suwaidi, executive director of the DTC, about the technological features of the bus. The bus is fitted with a hydraulic suspension system enabling smooth entry and exit from the bus, a remote control and tracking system through the Operations Control Centre, and a navigation system compatible with the geographical addressing system of the Dubai Municipality branded Makani, it further stated.

All buses will use environment-friendly technologies, thanks to their engines compatible with Euro 4 and 5 specifications, and the clean diesel, which has low emissions rate, and low sulfur content (50 ppm). The bus interior has deluxe finishing, noise-free environment, ample room and luxurious seats offering added comfort to students.

Al Suwaidi said: “The bus is fitted with cutting-edge technologies such as surveillance cameras to ensure the security and safety of students in transit, text messages services to inform parents of the safe arrival of their wards, a tracking system using the GIS technology, and an optional WiFi service for interested academic institutions.”

Al Tayer was impressed by the interior and exterior designs of the school buses, equivalent to the highest quality safety standards in use by school transport services worldwide.

“The DTC has to comply with the standards, stipulations and controls applied by the Public Transport Agency to all entities engaged in the school transport business. These include Order No. (2) for 2008 governing school transport in the Emirate of Dubai, along with its Executive Regulation, and RTA’s Guide issued in this regard.

The guide details specifications in terms of shape and safety and security standards of the bus in addition to respective responsibilities of school managements, firms, attendants, operators, drivers, students and parents,” Al Tayer said.

“According to information gathered the total number of students in Dubai is around 253,000 of whom 151,000 students (60 per cent) use school buses, and the RTA is aiming to raise this proportion to 70 per cent,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service