Dubai: There is an issue that I would like to bring to the attention of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). It has been a few weeks since I first saw water dripping out of the overhead airconditioning units in the smart bus stop near my house. This is located in the Raffa 2 area, on Khalid Bin Waleed Road, Bur Dubai.
The water that drips from the units remains stagnant within the bus shelter and forms a puddle on the ground. Passengers who walk in end up stepping in the puddle. Their shoes and clothes get wet due to this, which is quite unpleasant.
Watch: Smart bus shelter needs urgent maintenance work, says reader
As part of the ‘Smart Shelter’ initiative, facilities for recharging mobile phones have been installed in many of these shelters around Dubai. Thus, one of the main hazards of the water dripping from the airconditioning units is the risk of getting electrocuted. The water drips very close to the wires, which can be life threatening for the public. It could also cause a short circuit, which can be very dangerous and even start a fire. Additionally, there is an even higher risk of people slipping and getting injured, including small children and the elderly. If they don’t see the spill, they are at risk.
The Smart Shelter, provided by the RTA, is a very innovative initiative that offers a lot of facilities, including smart kiosks and passenger information screens, and it also lets people cool off and beat the summer heat, thanks to the airconditioner installed inside. Dubai is also the first emirate to introduce airconditioned bus stops. But, proper and regular maintenance is also required for such an initiative.
I request the concerned authorities on behalf of all commuters who use this facility, to take necessary action. Please do take this issue into consideration.
— The reader is a student based in Dubai.
The readers concerns were raised with the management of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). They looked into the complaint and stated: “We have already addressed the issue to our maintenance team and an action has been initialed accordingly to resolve the issue.”
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