ABU DHABI // Commuters will no longer have to sweat it out while they wait for public transport after authorities in the capital began fixing defective air-conditioning and broken doors at bus stops.
So far, doors have been replaced at 25 out of the 80 bus shelters in Abu Dhabi city, said Musanada, the Abu Dhabi General Services Company.
However, people who regularly use public transport said the real test will come next summer when temperatures soar.
"It’s working fine now as the weather is good. But the real test will be in summer, when it reaches up to 50°C," said Jameel Farouqi, an Indian worker at a bus stop.
"In summer in most of them we found ACs were not working properly. Or if the AC is working the cooling was very poor. Repairs should continue the whole summer and a maintenance company should check doors and cooling regularly," he said.
Musanad, in collaboration with the Department of Municipal Affairs and Transport (DMAT), has been upgrading and repairing bus shelters in Abu Dhabi, which were in a poor condition for many years.
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A visit to shelters on Wednesday found most of the damaged doors were fixed and air-conditioning improved.
"We are in process of replacing all doors closing mechanism, we completed 25 out of 80," a Musanada spokesman said.
The authority urged the public to use bus shelters responsibly and open and close doors, modified from automatic to manual, properly.
"It’s a lack of attentiveness from users as well, some people close it and some don’t care. If it remains open there will be no cooling but people should understand that," said Ataullah Khan, a Bangladeshi worker.
Egyptian Amir Mostapha was happy to know the AC and doors would be fixed before summer and suggested fines should be introduced for those who misuse bus shelter.
"If they live in the UAE they should understand how to use facilities," Mr Mostapha said.
Commuters are asked to report any vandalism or faults at shelters to the DMAT by calling 80088888.
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