DUBAI: As part of its ongoing efforts to foster partnerships with other departments and organisations in Dubai to promote quality of service, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) held a meeting at its headquarters with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to discuss methods of encouraging Dewa’s employees to use public means of transport.

The meeting was attended by Dr Yousef Al Akraf, executive vice-president of Business Support, Ghinwa Krayem, manager of Quality Development, and Ahmed Abdullah Abdurahim, manager of Administrative Affairs. Representatives from the RTA included Essa Abdulrahman Al Dosari, CEO of Public Transport, Ahmed Al Hamadi, manager of the Vehicles Department for Public Transport, Mohammed Yousef Al Mazreb, manager of Unified Card for Transportation Systems and Shafiq Moussa Ismail, sales manager at Marketing and Corporate Communications.

The meeting focused on methods for encouraging the use of public means of transport, especially by government departments by stressing the environmental and economic advantages it combines.

RTA representatives assured that they are working with government departments to set guidelines for mutual collaboration to increase the usage of public transport by employees, especially by staff at lower levels, either at Dewa or other public sector organisations.

Dewa is at the forefront of government authorities and actively encourages its employees to use public transport in Dubai. In this regard, Dewa had distributed over 400 Nol cards among its employees in 2011.

Dewa has undertaken to collaborate with RTA in this regard by preparing a study of the transportation needs of its employees, especially those who use Dewa’s accommodation. Accordingly, an integrated plan and initiatives will be set with the purpose of creating additional transportation routes and offering promotions on Nol cards. Other initiatives to raise awareness on this very important matter and highlight the advantages and benefits that accrue from this to society will also be launched.