Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Photo: Shutterstock Dubai launches initiative to improve public services. Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), the authority responsible for making the city smart and fostering strategic goals, has announced the launch of a new service that will allow residents and visitors to easily report damages and malfunctions in public transport infrastructure.
The service will make reporting possible across the emirate with the help of the 'Mahboub' chatbot available on WhatsApp. The chatbot has already received a prestigious award from the global tech giant IBM.
Users will get the opportunity to raise awareness on a number of different issues, ranging from damaged right-of-way, which includes roads and footpaths designated for public use that are obstructed because of damage or neglect, to unusable sidewalks, bus stops, traffic lights, signage, and other infrastructure assets.
Users can simply take a photo and send it straight to WhatsApp, from where they will be transferred to the authorities in charge to take action, significantly speeding up the reporting process as well as their resolution.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Photo: ShutterstockMeera Al Sheikh, Director of Customer Happiness at the Corporate Administrative Support Services Sector at the RTA, explained that the authority’s call center received 6,525 reports during the first half of the year via the My City service.
“The service allows users to submit suggestions on infrastructure and roads, which plays a significant role in strengthening the partnership between the RTA and the public to preserve the civilized appearance of the Emirate of Dubai.”
The RTA has made it clear that the new system has been created to enhance the overall city exploration experience for residents and visitors alike, while improving infrastructure maintenance work, and guaranteeing a safe, convenient, and innovative transportation system in the city through innovation.