Dubai: The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced it intends to form a joint council with the Dubai Taxi Agency and a number of its strategic partners.

The move aims to "create new communication channels" between the two sides as the RTA aims to raise the proportion of trips made by mass transit in the city to 30 per cent.

It is also hoped the initiative will achieve integration in the mass transit sector by linking public buses with marine transport, taxis and the metro in a unified network.

Abdul Aziz Malek, Chief Executive of the Dubai Taxi Agency, said the council would lead to a better service for taxi users.

"The RTA is constantly trying to find solutions and programmes to alleviate the traffic congestion in Dubai. We all hope to succeed in ensuring our goals and objectives that certainly add to Dubai's record of achievements on all fronts," he said.

Unveiled

The proposal was unveiled at a gathering in Dubai where the RTA met with representatives of its various strategic partners including taxi franchise companies.

The council aims to provide alternative public transport modes characterised by high-quality and cost effectiveness in addition to raising awareness and changing the social view over the use of mass transit. Mohammad Abdul Aziz, Manager of the Health, Quality and Safety Office at the Dubai Taxi Agency highlighted the strategic partners' current bilateral relations and ways of promoting them to broader horizons including a mechanism to evaluate performance.