Authorities in the Dubai transport department have assured the public on security and safety of Dubai Metro even as it readies itself for the opening of the Green Line early next month. The Operations Control Centre (OCC) of the Dubai Metro, situated at the Metro Depot, Al Rashidiya, is supervising the trains' movement 24 hours a day in order to ensure the safety of commuters.

"The opening of the Green Line will surely add more burdens on the staff of the OCC in terms of monitoring and exercising total control of systems, stations and depots with a view to detecting and rectifying any emergent failure and ensuring a highly efficient and safe running of trains", said the director of Rail Operation of Rail Agency at the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Ramadan Abdullah. He explained that the OCC comprises two parts: One is dedicated to the Red Line and the other to the Green Line.

"About 20 fresh employees have been recruited to work on 3 shifts to track and monitor the Green Line particularly noting that each line of surveillance screens is totally separated from the other. There are also two giant screens for both lines and overall there are 37 standalone screens for the Red Line and 28 standalone screens for the Green Line."

He said the OCC staff, who are deployed 24/7 play a huge role in monitoring all aspects of the metro including the movement of the rolling stock and stations on both lines in order to detect any fault, even if minor, and respond promptly to provide an alternative service.

"The OCC features world-class specifications in terms of the unique design befitting its job nature, thus ensuring tranquility and full comfort to employees, particularly as the facility contains crucial systems that have to be monitored and closely watched by the OCC staff, including Automatic Trains Movement Control System; which is responsible for operating and moving the trains, and always ensuring a safe braking distance between trains."

The facility also harbours systems to monitor the station's fire systems, cameras, lighting systems, lifts and others as well as environment monitoring systems; which are sensors fitted at stations to check the station's temperature level. Ramadan said that the Centre "has important communication systems through which the staff can communicate with the public and station staff by means of audio systems to offer them appropriate guidance in case of sudden change in trains movement.

"The OCC consists of several sections contributing to the highly efficient operation of the Centre, including CCTV cameras supervised by the security officer whose job is to watch cameras' outputs and cope up with various security incidences at the stations including indecent conduct, complaints, and comments from the public among others."