The Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) has recently announced the linkage of the blue Nol card, which is used in Dubai Metro and public buses in Dubai, with the ID card as a major condition for obtaining this service.
According to Mohammed Al Mudharreb, Director of Unified Automated Fare Collection Department at Corporate Technical Support Services Sector, RTA, those interested in obtaining blue Nol cards will have to present their ID cards as a major condition for obtaining them.
In a press statement, Al Mudharreb said the RTA launched an initiative to upgrade Nol card services through which the age categories for those entitled to a 50 per cent discount on blue Nol card services were specified at no more than 23 years for higher studies students and no less than 60 years for old people. He pointed out those with special needs are exempted from the age condition, as the disabled are given a six-month renewable permit for using public transport services free of charge. Those with special needs, however, have to present their special needs cards which show the degree and type of disability, he said.
The RTA announced the launch of a monthly subscription service to the blue Nol card on August 2011, bringing to 4 the number of RTA’s electronic cards, these being the silver, gold, blue and red cards. More than 3 million Nol cards were sold since Dubai Metro was operated in September 2009 up to the middle of this year. The silver Nol card is the most sold one as around 3,000 cards are sold daily.
The blue Nol card allows its holders to use Dubai Metro and public buses for unlimited times for 30 days, renewable.
It is noteworthy that the RTA is a government authority that has recently linked its services to the ID card. It was preceded by Dubai Courts, which was the first Dubai government entity to announce in April 2009 the compulsory presentation of the ID card in all its transactions. Last October, Dubai Municipality announced that the ID card would be compulsory for all its employees.
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