by KK Moidu
ABRAS are increasingly becoming a popular mode of transportation in Sharjah. The abra service, which started three decades ago in Sharjah’s, Al Mareija Corniche area, is the primary means of transportation between the two sides of the creek. Many people depend on the boat service for going to the Sharjah Court and Department of Sea Ports and Customs.
Rolla resident Abdul Wahab said, “I used Sharjah Abra for the first time for going to the court. It was very easy and comfortable than driving the car in traffic congested roads. Although I am a Sharjah resident for nearly a decade, I was not aware about the boat service.
“When I asked my friend working in a legal firm for the location of the court, he told me to use the boat service. I have a driving licence and own a car but I prefer boat service than driving. I parked my car near the Al Zahra Mosque and used the abra service to reach the other side. The abra service is time saving and if I go by road it will take an hour for going and coming back. If enough parking spaces are not available, then it will be another problem and I will go to the other side next time only on abra.”
Employees working on the other side in factories, oil companies and construction sites also utilise the water transport daily.
Many companies who have factories and sites on the other side drop their labourers near the mosque in the morning. These labourers cross the creek using the abra service. Buses pick them back in the evening.
Loading and unloading labourers are going up and down several times each day by using the abra. Talib from Pakistan, a loading and unloading worker said, “I go for work on the other side and use the abra service on a daily basis. If the boat service is not available here it will be very difficult for us to go for duty on the other side. Since I am a low-income earning loading worker, I can’t afford the huge amount for taxis.”
The boats pick passengers from Al Mareija Corniche area near the Al Zahra Mosque and drop on the other side in front of the Department of Sea Ports and Customs. More than 50 medium-sized single-engine craft with a capacity of more than 15 passengers are being operated by a single operator and are chugging up and down in day and night.
Around 1000 passengers are using the abra facility everyday and most of the drivers are from the sub-continent. The service is available round-the-clock. Although they work on alternate days, the boat drivers spend their full time in the boat in hot and cold weather conditions. They don’t rent rooms but eat and sleep in their boats.
Passengers are using the abra as an alternative to vehicles to reach the other side. Commuters prefer the abra service to reach the destination fast and save themselves from the traffic rush. The abra service not only saves time but also is economical.
The charge of the abra for a one-way trip is currently only one dirham and it takes less than five minutes to reach the destination.
The abra service in Sharjah was introduced nearly three decades earlier with a 25 fils fare and then doubled before twenty years as 50 fils. The new revised fare of one dirham was implemented in last November 2007.
Indian national Poonja Kera from Gujarat, Jamnagar, who is running the boat for the last five years, says, “I start my work at 4am in the morning and earn Dhs1,000 monthly after the diesel and sponsor fees. Around 15 trips on each working days costs Dhs80 for diesel and pays Dhs1200 to the owner of the boat every month.”
Another boat driver Indian National Bharath Raja from Gujarat, Jamnagar says, “I am operating the boat for the last six years. After the diesel expense, sponsor charge and food, the monthly saving is only Dhs500.”
“The number of boats are increasing but passengers are declining and that makes the situation worse. The boat services in this area are not used by tourists and the collection of public holidays and weekly off days are very less,” says Bharath.
The coast guards are monitoring the area all the time. They are fully equipped for providing immediate help in emergency conditions. The authorities conduct test of the engines and overall conditions of abra at the time of yearly renewal and make sure of the safety.
A grocery owner in the area said, “The area becomes busier during the evening from around 5pm to 7pm with passengers.” However, he is not benefitted from the abra service by getting more customers because his shop is not in front of the passenger picking point.
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