Dubai completes metro tunnel digging towards Expo 2020

Dubai, June 30 (IANS/WAM) The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai on Saturday announced the completion of key tunnelling works of Route 2020 Project, which takes the Dubai Metro to the Expo 2020 venue.

The tunnel stretches 3.2 km, with a depth ranging from 12 to 36 metres, said the RTA. Works in the metro viaducts are set for completion in November while all other railway works related to the project are scheduled to be completed by July 2019.

The underground section of the metro will connect to 11.8 km of elevated track. Tunnelling will continue up to Dubai Investment Park. The RTA plans to begin test-runs for the metro in February 2020.

Five stations above ground, two underground stations, an interchange area and an Expo station will also be built to serve passengers travelling to the site.

Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA, said Route 2020 Project was progressing according to the schedule.

The new route is expected to handle 20 per cent of people coming to Dubai Expo 2020, with trains ferrying 35,000 commuters daily during the week, expected to rise to 47,000 passengers on weekends.

Dubai, the business and trade metropolis of the UAE, will host the World Expo from October 2020 to April 2021 as the first Arab city ever, under the slogan "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future".

--IANS/WAM

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