By a staff reporter

THE Higher Committee of the Dubai Award for Sustained Transport (DAST), Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), has already completed several milestones in the preparations for organising the third edition of the award this year.

Dr Khalid Mohammed Al Zahid, the chairman of Dast Higher Committee, revealed that key organisational milestones included the selection of Judges Panel to assess submissions made, designing and printing distinguished brochures and leaflets for the sponsors of the award, the initial phase of the ad promotional campaign (the second stage is slated for launch after the holiday of Eid Al Fitr), and upgrading the portal of the award, which would be re-launched in the near future.

“Since the inaugural session, Dast Higher Organising Committee remained in constant pursuit of upgrading its work mechanism in keeping with the massive development in the RTA projects and initiatives, besides broadening the scale of participation in the award to attract larger numbers of public, semi-public and private entities towards contributing to the advancement of sustained transport in Dubai Emirate, and building the future of the Emirate together with the RTA efforts in this field,” added Dr Al Zahid.

“The Higher Organising Committee is always considering the addition of new categories with the aim of covering broader aspects related to the development of sustained transport development in Dubai Emirate in keeping with the ongoing development made in integrating public transport systems in the Emirate,” he said.

“The RTA decided to add new categories during the third edition of the award, including the School Transport category, which offers the managements of schools and companies operating in this field an opportunity to engage in competitions and exhibit their abilities and skills in boosting school transport. Accordingly, the award categories has increased to five in addition to the Special Recognition categories (Best Academic Research, and Best Media Coverage),” said the chairman of Dast Higher Committee.

Al Zahid anticipated the third edition of Dast 2010 would be more successful compared to the past two editions.