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Sharjah: Salik is a burden that a resident from Ajman is not willing to take and is pushing her to consider returning to her country.
Residents living in Sharjah and Ajman say that Salik, the new road toll system in Dubai, will affect them either economically or physically because they will have to spend more money on the toll charges or suffer driving through the congested alternative roads.
Suha Mustafa, a Palestinian saleswoman who lives in Ajman with her family said that Salik is the final burden she is not willing to bear.
Obligations
"This is the last straw and I cannot handle it anymore. I am seriously considering resigning from my job and would rather go back to my country as financial obligations continue to pile up," she said.
"My life is divided between working and commuting. My siblings can handle the pressure of commuting but I can't. It is making me depressed," she added.
Shargis Tariq, an Indian vendor who carpools said that he is preparing to leave home up to two hours earlier than usual to avoid the expected traffic congestion.
"I will have to be on the road by 4am to get to work at 7am, as I can't afford to pay Dh8 per day to use the road. A large portion of my salary already goes to transportation."
Rania Shahin, a Syrian sales executive living in Abu Shagara said that Salik will not ease traffic but add to the burden of how to make ends meet.
"I have to worry about rent, fuel and my car loan, and now another Dh200 per month will be added to my expenses," she said, adding that she has already asked to be transferred to the Sharjah branch so she could avoid the traffic and the charges.
Haitham Awil, a Syrian engineer living in the Buheira Corniche said that he cannot see how the road toll will reduce the traffic and that many people will continue to use Al Garhoud Bridge.
"It is merely a matter of money because people who can afford it will continue to use it, and those who can't, will have to add extra hours commuting on the few alternative roads," he said.
Ameenah Dabu, a Moroccan living in Al Buteina said that she will be forced to transport her colleagues in order to cover the expenses of Salik.
"I already spend an average of five to six hours commuting from Sharjah to the fourth Interchange on Shaikh Zayed where my job is, and my body can't take the pressure of driving any longer than that," she said, so taking an alternative route would not be an option.
Your comments
It's very suprising people are complaining about Salik. What is the problem with it? Wvery country has this system so why people are crying?
If anyone has a problem, use other roads and if you feel again there is a problem use public transport. You will win
Sadiq
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 21, 2007, 12:51
It's true that there are some countries that are already implementing toll gates but I don't think implementing it in Dubai this July is a smart move. Before implementing this, alternative routes must be there.
Raffy
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 21, 2007, 12:44
Unfotunately the new rule turns out to be a money making way rather than controlling traffic. Without even completing alternative routes, all the people will be liable to take it.
Varghese
Ajman,UAE
Posted: June 21, 2007, 11:22
My husband is working in Dubai. So he has to pay another more Dh250 per month for transportation.
Vineetha
Kannur,India
Posted: June 21, 2007, 11:15
I don't really see the problem, its just Dh8 per day on average. Learn to adapt, cut down on the McDonalds, save up that money from other redundant resouces you've been spending on.
Baz
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: June 21, 2007, 10:57
I dont know why Salik is such a big issue here. Back home we pay three times more and still face traffic. People are complaining about non availability of alternatives. Well Salik is a good start and the government can use this monies to develop the infrastucture and create new alternative means of transport. The way Dubai is developing, the govt definitely needs to generate some form of revenue to delevop roads for the forth coming years. So please stop complaining and remember it could be still worse if you were somewhere else.
Faiz
Sydney,Australia
Posted: June 21, 2007, 10:53
Well somebody has to pay for so much road construction which is going on everywhere, but definately not the RTA. Without making money from Sharjah commuters, how will they complete the projects. It would have a negative effect on traffic for sure.
Kayzee
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: June 21, 2007, 10:46
The location of the toll gate near the Mall of Emirates means that all residents living in Dubai Marina or Greens are not seen as Dubai residents any more. This effect will reduce housing and rental prices in these areas as people will think twice if to settle out there.
Markus
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 21, 2007, 10:46
Dear residents, no matter how much you scream, you scribble on the net, the toll will be coming in effect from 1st July.
Murtaza
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 21, 2007, 10:36
I agree with Nicola. The toll system should at least, be suspended till the Metro is completed. I don't see any reason why they should implement it in haste. It will only worsen the traffic situation around Dubai.
Lu
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 21, 2007, 10:24
I start at 6:20am from Sharjah to catch my rental bus transport which recently Sharjah RTA has stopped. There is no sufficient RTA buses in Sharjah and we all passengers are travelling with that service has been having problems travelling, and on top of all Dubai have introduced the Salik which will add more traffic problems, we will have to spend more money on transport now.
Monia
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 21, 2007, 09:37
I want to thank you guys for writing so many articles on how the new toll will affect people from Sharjah. In this country I feel like the government doesn't care about middle class at all so it is good to see at least the media cares. The toll is not a bad system but what is the alternative for people in Sharjah?
Krupa
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: June 21, 2007, 09:32
I have bought Salik, so what happens if I have to spend additional hours even after I bought it. It just added cost of living. I will test run this system if it doesnt work I have no other choice but to find alternative route and leave at 5am just to get to work at 7.15. Initally traffic would be less as school have closed. But it well be a deadlock once school are reopened. What if Salik fails???
Mohammad
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 21, 2007, 08:28
I was a resident of Dubai for 26 years until I was married and left the country. I can fully understand how tough this will be to one and all. To some extent the Salik system may help but then the government needs to think of alternative means, such as reducing the large number cars bought and registered in Dubai.
Maryam
England,United Kingdom
Posted: June 21, 2007, 08:05
My relatives came to Abu Dhabi to visit me, I wanted to show them Dubai, because they are interested in it. However, I am very hesitant to go to Dubai due to the Salik cost and its effect on traffic. I was planning to pay up to five thousand dirhams and more on hotel stay and shopping. Just because I have to pay 100 AED for Salik I will not go. Its the principal that matters, its not fair for other emirates residents.
Karim
Abudhabi,UAE
Posted: June 21, 2007, 03:55
The toll is not going to help in reducing the traffic but its going to be worse or a disaster on road.
Toll is not toe solution for traffic, toll is just a reason to earn money from the public and make their lives more worst.
Mohammad
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 21, 2007, 03:47
The daily rate ought to be Dh50 and lets have a Dh5 litre for unleaded while we're at it please - it's time the UAE woke up to the obscenity of consumption and global warming. Bring it on
Kevein
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: June 21, 2007, 02:43
I am not against the toll, many countries have it, Singapore probably it's the most comparable example as it works also with pre-paid cards and with virtual tolls with RFID. What I criticize is that this system must have been implemented only upon completion of the Metro and also once alternative routes where ready to ride. This is clearly not the case and will provoke many collateral effects to the city transportation.
Nicola
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 21, 2007, 01:57
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