Entertainment
Dubai tram test run to continue till November 10
Dubai tram test run to continue till November 10 Lily B. Libo-on / 22 January 2014 Powered by electricity to reduce the pollution, tram to be the fastest, more reliable, and eco-friendly way to get around. The testing of Dubai Tram, a rail vehicle that will run heavily on tracks along streets spanning 10.6 kilometres from Dubai Marina to Al Sufouh, begins at Zone 1 on January 26. Tracks being laid of Al Sufouh Tramway from Dubai Marina. – KT photos by Rahul Gajjar The Dubai Tram, which measures 44 meters in length, with fully air-conditioned carriages designed as a combination of luxurious interiors and state-of-the-art technology, will go for testing on January 26 for Zone 1, April 16 for Zone 2 and June 14 for Zone 3 and will continue until November 10. However, during the testing, Dubai Tram will not be open to passengers. A part of Dubai Government’s effort to provide a modern and integrated public transit system to efficiently serve densely populated areas and new developed areas in the emirate, Dubai Tram will also have allocated spaces for passengers using wheel chairs or mobility aid. “This area is marked with a wheelchair symbol and will have special marked call buttons that allow passengers using wheelchairs or mobility aids extra time to get in and out of the Tram. It will also have access ramps for mobility-impaired passengers, including people in wheelchairs, parents with prams and the elderly,” RTA said. Designed to be an environment-friendly transportation, the Dubai Tram is expected to be the choice of residents, who will leave their cars at home and take the Tram, to go around Dubai. It is powered by electricity to reduce the pollution from the daily traffic jams, making it the fastest, more reliable, and eco-friendly way to get around. RTA said the Dubai Tram has a maximum speed of 50km/hour with a total trip time of 42 minutes and with a capacity of 405 passengers who will be aboard the four cars for the silver class, two cars for women and children, and one car for the gold class. “Dubai Trams are quiet and run on much wider tracks so they cannot swerve to avoid obstacles. It will be running along seven stations such as Jumeirah Beach Residence 1, Jumeirah Beach Residence 2, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai Marina Mall, Dubai Marina, Marina Towers, Mina Seyahi, Media City, Palm Jumeirah, to Knowledge Village and Al Sufouh,” the RTA said. The Dubai Tram system is integrated with Dubai Metro system at two stations in Dubai Marina and in Jumeirah Lakes Towers. “Footbridges provide a direct link between the two adjacent Tram and Metro stations for a smooth and seamless interchange for passengers between the two systems. To top it all, Dubai Tram stations are designed to be in harmony with the Metro stations reflecting the region’s art and ethnic heritage yet set in urban context. Designs are in five different styles, either at ground level or elevated, at roadside or at the median. — lily@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Hospital bill paid, baby Mohammed returns home
Hospital bill paid, baby Mohammed returns home Nivriti Butalia / 22 January 2014 Premature baby discharged after a bill of over Dh170,000 at Al Baraha Hospital settled with the help of hundreds of KT readers. Infant of the fortnight, little Mohammed has finally come home. Born nearly three months ago on October 25, 2013, Mohammed — who, incidentally, shares a birthday with his father, Sayed — was discharged on Tuesday morning after a bill of over Dh170,000 was finally settled, thanks to donations by hundreds of KT readers. Mohammed’s father Sayed, along with his trusted aide and friend Mazher marched out of the ICU wing of Al Baraha Hospital in Deira — baby swaddled in a white and blue blanket in Sayed’s arms, Mazher lugging Sayed’s backpack and another polybag of baby-things, headed towards Mazher’s car. Staff of the hospital clicked photographs of Mohammed and Sayed as they left the hospital premises. There were no other family members present. “I never want to see another hospital, another ICU. I never again want to see hospital lights,” an exhausted but relieved Sayed told Khaleej Times . “If I sit down I will fall asleep,” he smiled, explaining why he won’t take a seat in the waiting room while the paper work wound up. Grateful for all the help that has come his way, Sayed kept repeating to all well-wishers and people in the hospital who were stopping to congratulate him for being able to take his baby home: “Alhumdullilah… Alhumdullilah (All praise and thanks be to Allah)”. The X-ray technicians and the security guards are now his friends. The nurses admire his fortitude. At the reception, the burqa-clad ladies think he’s not like the others. They talk of his virtues — “so patient, so decent, not screaming and shouting like others”. Sayed is most looking forward to Wednesday morning when his mother, sister and baby daughter arrive in Dubai. They are coming to basically, take over and provide some relief in childcare duties, to help out Sayed. Except that he has to work a night shift, Sayed is eagerly awaiting his daughter’s reaction to her baby brother whom she has never met. “I want to catch it on video,” he says in Hindi. He wants to see if she does her trademark thing of gingerly prodding a new specimen — in this case, her new baby brother, and then recoiling in glee, as if given an electric shock. That’s the moment he’s waiting for. Although Mohammed has been diagnosed with Patent Ductus Arteriosis (PDA) — a hole in the heart — that doctors have told him is treatable, Sayed is feeling “90 per cent better and more optimistic” than last week. Besides being indebted to donors who came forward with the money, Sayed is indebted to his friend Mazher — who has turned his voice hoarse fielding phone calls all day, incurring the wrath of his manager at work since instead of being in office, he’s been by the side of his friend in hospital all of last week. nivriti@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Federal National Council hails army conscription
Federal National Council hails army conscription Nissar Hoath / 22 January 2014 Members say move will ensure citizen’s participation and help serve national interests The Federal National Council (FNC) on Tuesday overwhelmingly welcomed and supported the government decision to make it compulsory for Emirati males aged 18 to 30 to serve in the UAE’s armed forces. National service will also cover military training, and high school graduates will have to be part of the military for nine months, while those who have not completed high school will serve two years. However, it will be voluntary for women. Most of the members hailed the move saying it will serve and protect national interests. “All these young trained men and women will always be there to provide their services in all kinds of natural and unnatural disasters,” said a member. The session chaired by Speaker Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr was also attended by Mariam Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of Social Affairs, and Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Minister of FNC Affairs. In his remarks during the debate on the compulsory military service for Emiratis, the Speaker hailed the directives and decision by the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for issuing a Federal Law on the compulsory national military and reserve service. “This kind of guidance comes in the framework of our wise leadership to recognise the importance of citizens’ participation in defending their homeland, further protect national security and serve national interests,” said Al Murr. The Speaker also hailed His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, for launching the UAE’s National Agenda during the next seven years to achieve the “Vision 2021” making the country one of the best in the world in various fields. The other issue that came under debate on Tuesday was the new child law protection, which was approved by the council during its last session. Members further reviewed the law called Wadeema’s Law by the government. The council during its last session passed it with minor amendments, including changing the name of the law from Wadeema to Child’s Right Law. The bill was drafted by the Federal Government after a girl child was brutally murdered and dumped in the desert by her father and his girlfriend in 2011 when a children’s protection law was awaiting approval. nissar@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
