Abu Dhabi commuters will have to pay for bus rides from February 15

Abu Dhabi: Commuters in Abu Dhabi will have to pay for bus rides from February 15, 2009, after enjoying free rides for a while. Initially, it was planned to introduce a fare system at the beginning of January 1, but was extended.

Commuters can now buy monthly, daily or single passes; monthly pass costs Dh40, daily pass Dh3 and a single trip will cost Dh1, said Saeed Al Hameli, General Manager, Bus Office of Abu Dhabi Department of Transport.
Monthly and daily 'Ojra' passes are already on sale at around 22 outlets, said the official.
As a special incentive, people buying monthly passes are being given an extended validity until March 31.
Senior citizens and special needs people can travel for free, said the official.
Al Hameli earlier said the Department of Transport plans to serve as many as 70,000 to 80,000 commuters a day.

Gulf News