SHARJAH // Bus passengers in Sharjah have complained about having to bear the heat of summer and high humidity while waiting at a major station in the emirate.
Thousands of commuters wait each morning in the heat to board inter-city buses from Al Jubail station near Sharjah Corniche. All waiting areas are covered with umbrellas. But only some have fans, and they are usually packed with passengers.
“I find that it’s really hard to stand near the fan during the rush hour because people are crowded under the umbrellas near it,” said S D, 27, from the Philippines.
Commuters from the bus station want Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to instal more fans at the station to help them cope with the heat, as many cannot afford to take taxis to reach their jobs in Dubai.
S D, a cosmetics saleswoman, pays Dh10 to reach Dubai by bus, and said the fare for a taxi was about Dh65.
Commuters can rarely afford to take taxis to reach other emirates, said Pakistani taxi driver A A, 37. “Mainly tourists can afford to go to other emirates in a cab. They usually can’t bear the heat or don’t want to wait for the bus, while residents would rather wait for the bus because it’s cost-effective,” he said.
But commuters also face overcrowding at rush hour.
“The rush hour happens between 7am to 10am. It’s really a nightmare to get on the bus, hoping that you reach your work on time,” said Muzzamil Sayed, a 45-year-old marketing employee.
Khalid Al Khayyal, head of RTA’s inter-city transport, said the authority was addressing commuters’ concerns.
“We are working on increasing the number of fans in the waiting areas and enhancing the services in Al Jubail station,” said Mr Al Khayyal.
To cope with demand during peak hours, weekends and holidays, the authority leases buses from private companies to accommodate more passengers.
It has added 39 new buses this year at a cost of Dh30 million, bringing the total to 69 inter-city buses.
A plan is also under way to replace 747 taxis between this year and the first quarter of next year, as the RTA starts to renew its fleet.
“There are 1,540 RTA taxis operating in all parts of Sharjah, with three operators working under the umbrella of the authority, bringing the total number of taxis in the emirate to 5,300, serving 45,000 residents each day,” said Abdulaziz Al Jarwan, director of RTA.
He said 28 million commuters used the authority’s buses and taxis each year.
Al Jubail bus station is the main station in Sharjah and operates around the clock, connecting the city centre with the rest of the country.
tzriqat@thenational.ae
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Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
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RESULTS
6.30pm: Meydan Sprint Group 2 US$175,000 1,000m
Winner: Ertijaal, Jim Crowley (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihe (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap $60,000 1,400m
Winner: Secret Ambition, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
7.40pm: Handicap $160,000 1,400m
Winner: Raven’s Corner, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
8.15pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes Group 3 $200,000 2,000m
Winner: Folkswood, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
8.50pm: Zabeel Mile Group 2 $250,000 1,600m
Winner: Janoobi, Jim Crowley, Mike de Kock
9.25pm: Handicap $125,000 1,600m
Winner: Capezzano, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer
What is graphene?
Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
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FULL%20FIGHT%20CARD
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World ranking (at month’s end)
Jan - 257
Feb - 198
Mar - 159
Apr - 161
May - 159
Jun – 162
Currently: 88
Year-end rank since turning pro
2016 - 279
2015 - 185
2014 - 143
2013 - 63
2012 - 384
2011 - 883
Schedule for Asia Cup
Sept 15: Bangladesh v Sri Lanka (Dubai)
Sept 16: Pakistan v Qualifier (Dubai)
Sept 17: Sri Lanka v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 18: India v Qualifier (Dubai)
Sept 19: India v Pakistan (Dubai)
Sept 20: Bangladesh v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi) Super Four
Sept 21: Group A Winner v Group B Runner-up (Dubai)
Sept 21: Group B Winner v Group A Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 23: Group A Winner v Group A Runner-up (Dubai)
Sept 23: Group B Winner v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 25: Group A Winner v Group B Winner (Dubai)
Sept 26: Group A Runner-up v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 28: Final (Dubai)
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
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