DUBAI // Five years after being among the first passengers to ride the Dubai Metro, Venkat Raghavan took a seat on Dubai Tram’s maiden journey.
“It’s just fun and we’re here to enjoy it,” said Mr Raghavan.
He drove from his home in Bur Dubai with friend Vaidi Nadhan to be at Al Sufouh tram station at 6.05am, about 25 minutes before the tram opened its doors to the public on Wednesday.
“There were just two of us initially and then the Serco [tram operators] came in,” Mr Raghavan said. “We were also the first to use the metro when it opened to the public on September 9, 2009, so we wanted to be the first here also.
“The first tram popped in at 6.20 and left the station at 6.30am, so it was great to be on board with my friend and another passenger.”
The finance manager from India said tram drivers hit the brakes abruptly and more handrails were needed, but he was sure the Roads and Transport Authority would look into it.
“I’m worried that when it moves fast and then brakes are applied too hard it will be dangerous for the elderly and when travelling with children,” Mr Raghavan said.
“There should definitely be handrails overhead because when the tram lurches, you need something to hold on to or people will fall over. At some stations the doors did not open, but these are first-day hiccups and will work out in the end.”
He said he will continue to drive to work because it was quicker to reach Jumeirah Lakes Towers, but would use the tram in the evenings and over the weekends.
The trams will ease traffic congestion in Jumeirah Beach Residence and the Marina, drawing people who had avoided the area before.
“I will definitely be back with my family on the tram this weekend,” Mr Raghavan said. “This will make it much easier because we always had problems finding parking.”
He has a few words for cynics who brushed aside the tram’s appeal.
“There will always be sceptics. People thought Salik wouldn’t work but it does,” he said.
“When the metro started, people said it would be used only in winter, but now you need to let some trains go because it is crowded. I see the tram getting full, too.”
rtalwar@thenational.ae
Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
- 1st Test India won by 304 runs at Galle
- 2nd Test Thursday-Monday at Colombo
- 3rd Test August 12-16 at Pallekele
TOURNAMENT INFO
Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier
Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November
UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi
Which honey takes your fancy?
Al Ghaf Honey
The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year
Sidr Honey
The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest
Samar Honey
The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
ENGLAND SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Jack Butland, Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope
Defenders: John Stones, Harry Maguire, Phil Jones, Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Gary Cahill, Ashley Young, Danny Rose, Trent Alexander-Arnold
Midfielders: Eric Dier, Jordan Henderson, Dele Alli, Jesse Lingard, Raheem Sterling, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Fabian Delph
Forwards: Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Marcus Rashford, Danny Welbeck
Men's football draw
Group A: UAE, Spain, South Africa, Jamaica
Group B: Bangladesh, Serbia, Korea
Group C: Bharat, Denmark, Kenya, USA
Group D: Oman, Austria, Rwanda
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
