Bad news for bus travellers in Dubai, who were looking forward to the installation of 500 air-conditioned bus stops before the brutal summer heat hits us. It’s reported that they will miss the deadline for installation due to “operational delays” – whatever that means.

This summer, travellers will again have to stand waiting for a bus in temperatures up to 50C (120F) and humidity in the 90% range.

Prototype a/c bus shelter outside Wild Wadi.

Photo.K N Murali. Emirates Evening Post.

It’s actually quite a plan. A total of 1,500 of the a/c bus shelters are to be installed across Dubai to encourage more people to use the buses and reduce traffic on our overcrowded roads. The size of the shelters will vary depending on how busy a particular route is. The first 500 were due to be installed by July, when the heat and humidity is starting to become very uncomfortable.

The shelters are being constructed overseas and it now seems the first 500 won’t be in place until after summer – perhaps as late as November.