| Dubai's traffic congestion continues to | | | | capacity, and therefore some compromises will |
| remain one of the most prime concerns for its | | | | have to be made out in its existing design. |
| planners and administrators. A very | | | | The traditional form of boat design, called |
| significant number of freak collisions taking | | | | Abra, has been followed in this region for |
| place, daily occurrences of traffic jams and | | | | years now. The new boat designs to be |
| an ill-educated mass of drivers making one's | | | | introduced will draw their outlook both from |
| life difficult on Dubai's roads, is how you | | | | Abra and modern techniques in equal terms. |
| could describe Dubai's traffic in few words. | | | | This deviation from Dubai's heritage will |
| The administration on its own part has done | | | | have to be made acceptable to the all |
| all it could to check this existing malice | | | | concerned, so as to see the planned bus |
| out by building flyovers and underpasses, | | | | service smoothly running. |
| however the ever-growing population forces | | | | |
| the problem to continue on. Several measures | | | | Currently, there are several bridges and a |
| are being introduced now to get the things on | | | | solitary tunnel apart from Abra boats, which |
| roads sorted out, among these being the | | | | could be used to cross Dubai Creek on any |
| proposed introduction of additional water | | | | usual occasion. However, boats provide a very |
| buses in the Dubai Creek area from July later | | | | conducive atmosphere for making out the |
| this year (2007). | | | | journeys as compared to the other methods. |
| | | | Structurally, Abras are open-air wooden |
| The Creek is an inlet of the Arabian Gulf | | | | ferries that could carry up to 20 passengers |
| that runs across the center where Dubai has | | | | sitting across the length of boats on |
| been populated upon. People would benefit | | | | back-to-back benches. This leads to |
| from any water bus service across this watery | | | | discomfort in the summers however, as |
| passage, since the usual road journeys demand | | | | temperatures can reach up to 50C and humidity |
| extra time and efforts both. The road traffic | | | | in the range of 90-percent. The improvised |
| will also have a sigh of relief, since part | | | | fleet of water buses will now have a sitting |
| of the daily commuting, however small in | | | | capacity of 35 passengers, and they will be |
| entity it may be, will get dispensed | | | | made fully air-conditioned. |
| elsewhere. However, there are two significant | | | | |
| aspects to be taken care of by the | | | | The latest boats will be pressed into a loop |
| authorities and people both. One among these | | | | water-bus service in the very first phase, |
| being the kind of boats that will get | | | | with two stops on either side of the Creek |
| introduced, as the hot and humid weather of | | | | receiving and sending buses on every 10 |
| Gulf area can be truly scorching in summers. | | | | minutes from 6am in the morning to 12 at |
| Secondly, the objective of maintaining | | | | night. Gradually, these buses will be |
| Dubai's cultural heritage has also to be kept | | | | extended up to New Dubai along the coastline, |
| in mind while introducing any new kind of | | | | which includes Palm Islands and The World. |
| boats. | | | | This new introduction of water-bus service is |
| | | | part of the extended public transport system |
| Boats previously running across Dubai Creek | | | | for Dubai's commuters, which aims at reducing |
| lacked in terms of advancement, but they did | | | | the city's road congestion. The planned Metro |
| have an ethnic Arabian outlook to be proud | | | | Railways will also be playing a crucial role |
| of. The latest announcement raises some | | | | in achieving these objectives apart from the |
| concerns therefore, as the fresh boats to be | | | | existing Abras and the just mentioned |
| inducted are going to have an advanced | | | | water-bus service. |