We demand a unified plan to link state roads under a federal umbrella

Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al -Nuaimi, head of the municipality and planning department in Ajman, attributed the traffic congestion in the emirate to two main challenges, the first is that the population growth that Ajman witnessed during the past years came at a much faster rate than the expectations of expansion plans.

He explained that the natural increase in the growth of the numbers of cars globally ranged between 2.5 and 3% annually, and the plans were laid on the basis of this rate to cover a period that extends between 15 and 20 years, but the reality in Ajman was different, as all roads reached the maximum capacity in less than three years, especially after the Kofid-19.

He added that the second challenge is the border entrances and exits of the emirate, which causes traffic congestion for those coming to Ajman, as a result of the lack of a clear plan to link the state’s emirates together.

He explained that «the plan in the neighboring emirate ends two sailors, and in Ajman it begins with five lanes, which causes congestion automatically.

He said, during the “Podcast Stories” program presented by the journalist Jamal Al -Mulla through the “Arab Cast” platform on “YouTube”: “We demand the development of a unified plan for the methods that link the emirates of the state, provided that it is in accordance with the best international standards, in a manner that guarantees the flow of the movement and the ease of movement between the UAE for all members of society”, adding that the movement between the emirates of the state is an essential part of the economic movement, and requires an interconnected infrastructure that enhances the efficiency of mobility It supports comprehensive development.

He explained that «the transfer of large numbers of residents to the UAE, especially to Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman, as a result of its geographical proximity, in addition to a significant increase in housing occupancy, led to an accelerated economic growth, but in return it constituted great pressure on the road network and caused traffic congestion.

He continued: «We have an integrated plan to expand the road network within the emirate, and during the current year we will witness a clear improvement in traffic liquidity, and we will continue to work in the coming years on additional expansion to accommodate the expected increase in the numbers of cars.

He also stressed that “the capabilities in the UAE are great, but what delays us is the absence of coordination and a unified vision with other local government agencies to link the emirates of the state,” pointing to the need for a federal umbrella that supervises the development and implementation of roads, railways, and mass transportation networks.

He demanded a fast train dedicated to transporting passengers only, linking all the emirates of the state from Ras Al Khaimah to Abu Dhabi, to reduce the pressure on roads, and to allow the private sector to contribute to this vital project.

Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al -Nuaimi affirmed that the Emirate of Ajman is moving steadily towards a comprehensive and sustainable development in various sectors, according to a clear vision based on the directives of the rational leadership, and in line with the national goals of the UAE.

He said that, based on the directives of His Highness Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al -Nuaimi, Member of the Supreme Council of the Union, the Ruler of Ajman, and the follow -up of His Highness Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al -Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman, Chairman of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Ajman, the first strategic plan for the emirate was developed in 2012, which included ambitious indicators at a high level, and this plan was implemented in line with the national plan of the UAE, in an integrative work between the various emirates of the state to achieve Federal goals.

He pointed out that the Emirate of Ajman launched the Vision 2030, which includes ambitious targets that require a double effort and budgets that reflect the level of aspirations, especially in the field of infrastructure and internal systems.

He touched on the future trend to provide residential apartments instead of land, indicating that this trend began to actually apply in the country, specifically in the city of Dibba Al -Fujairah through the Ministry of Infrastructure, where housing units were built and delivered to citizens.

He added: «Although there are some challenges in the beginning, as a result of some people who did not get used to the housing pattern in the apartments, we heard from a group of beneficiaries that they found comfort in this type of housing, especially the elderly, because of the reduction in living costs, in addition to the availability of a more interconnected social environment, as they have more neighbors and family relations instead of living within a small family only, and there To create such housing projects. ”

He also stressed that the rights of citizens to obtain residential lands in the emirate are reserved and guaranteed, pointing out that the urban plans for the emirate take into account the future needs of citizens, including housing and land allocation projects.

Regarding whether the sale of lands to investors may affect the citizens’ share of residential lands, he said that the rights of citizens to obtain guaranteed housing lands, and this was clearly included in the urban plan for the Emirate of Ajman 2040, where the plan includes all the new areas allocated to housing citizens and benefit from loans and granting housing, the lands are available, and the citizen is always at the top of the priorities of the Ajman government.

He added that the creation of lands designated for investment projects is a necessity to enhance the economic movement in the emirate, as growth cannot be limited to establishing housing only, but must be accompanied by industrial, commercial and tourism activity, and are essential factors to attract the employee, the investor and the beneficiary, and create new job opportunities that enhance the economic growth of the emirate, explaining: “The diminishing the volume of the available lands is a natural matter in all the emirates of the state, Today, there is eagerness and direction to build housing with appropriate designs than relying on vast areas, where the planning process is carried out according to the data related to the remaining lands.