Praveen Menon DUBAI // The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has issued 169 infringement notices to the operators of abras in the past six months for offences ranging from safety breaches to lack of cleanliness. The abras are a popular way of commuting for many residents, who use the boats to cross Dubai Creek. Of the notices issued, 17 were subjected to fines varying from Dh100 to Dh500, in addition to other penalties, said Hussain Ali al Saffar, director of the operation and maintenance department at RTA Marine Agency. Fines totalling Dh19,320 have been issued to the operators of abras since January.
The penalties were meant to deter abra operators from reckless driving, said Mr Saffar, and to ensure the boats were well-maintained. About 150 abras operate at Dubai Creek, charging Dh1 for a trip, from 5am to midnight. Another service, between Dubais Old Souk Station and Al Sabkha Station, runs 24 hours a day. The RTA said that 44 operators had been given notices for failing to moor their abras in prescribed areas, while 26 had been loading and offloading passengers away from approved stops.
@Email:pmenon@thenational.ae
