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Dubai: The Roads and Transport Authority yesterday confirmed that its Salik [road toll] project is on schedule for a July 1 start and denied reports that its launch was being reconsidered. "Salik is on track as announced," Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA told Gulf News. He was commenting on a report by Zawya Dow Jones news service quoting an RTA spokesperson as saying the road toll project may be delayed. "The RTA is meeting to confirm July 1 as the start date or to choose another date when it will start," the report quoted a spokesperson as saying. The report led to confusion with rumours that the road toll project could be delayed, especially with the adverse public reaction reflected in the media. Al Tayer described the report as "fabricated and baseless".
Installation finalised "This kind of news would obviously be announced by us. However, there is nothing of this sort," he told Gulf News. In a statement by the RTA, senior official Engineer Maitha Bin Udai also confirmed that the project "will be activated July 1, 2007". "RTA completed the installation of the toll gates on Al Garhoud Bridge and Shaikh Zayed Road near Mall of the Emirates and they were successfully tested," she added. The authority says the toll aims to control the flow of traffic and ease congestion. The project is expected to raise Dh600 million annually according to Al Tayer. About 100,000 vehicles are expected to pass through the toll gates in each direction daily, he added.
Your comments
Indeed Salik means "Clear". Clearing the pockets soon but not the never-ending traffic.
Ranjit
Duabi,UAE
Posted: June 25, 2007, 15:44
Why should one pay while exiting Dubai towards Abu Dhabi? Is there any traffic congestion in that direction?
Ashiq
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: June 25, 2007, 13:38
Today I went to several Eppco Stations to buy a Salik tag but surprisingly the tags were out of stock everywhere. It seems either the RTA was not expecting such a positive response from the public or may be it's a case of mismanagement.
Wasif
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 25, 2007, 13:13
The RTA should put a shed on all the public bus stops; we can't stand in the scorching heat. After that they can think about the toll. Give us a good facility to encourage us to use public transport.
Yasir
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 25, 2007, 13:01
I can not believe that the RTA wishes to impose the Salik system without even a proper public transport system in place. As thousands of others have voiced their opinions, RTA should reconsider their options, before digging into the poor man's wallet without providing any alternatives, other than the bus system which is not to say the best.
Vinu
Friedrichshafen,Germany
Posted: June 25, 2007, 12:55
Salik must be implemented. It will ease traffic on Shaikh Zayed Road and give easy excess to Dubai Airport or anywhere in Dubai at any time.
Abdul
Deira, Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 25, 2007, 12:46
Why not operate Salik on specific peak hours only, let's say from 6am to 10 pm everyday. At least everyone has the opportunity to use the road. If the real purpose is to just decongest traffic on peak hours only, why not give this a try.
Muneer
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 25, 2007, 12:36
I would like to request that the RTA give more passes to petrol stations because there are out of stock. Just give us the time at least to buy a Salik card.
Yasir
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 25, 2007, 12:29
I think this would be helpful to ease up congestion on Shaikh Zayed Road, but firstly the toll fee is very high, (maybe Dh2 would be sufficient). Secondly, it would be most effective after the Dubai Metro project is completed.
Hassan
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 25, 2007, 12:02
I don't use Shaikh Zayed Road very often, so I think it is unnecessary for me to get a Salik pass, but it would be annoying if I forgot about it and got fined.
Faris
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 25, 2007, 11:56
Salik is on the threshold. I hope it achieves its ultimate goals.
Muhammad
Mahe,India
Posted: June 25, 2007, 10:25
Salik must be implemented. It will ease traffic on Sheikh Zaid road and give easy excess to the Dubai Airport at any time.
Muhammad
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 25, 2007, 09:24
Yesterday I went to buy Salik at a petrol station. The staff told me they were out of stock. July is fast approaching and the RTA should keep more in stock.
Abdul
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 25, 2007, 08:48
I would like to request the RTA to allow free pass on weekend because there will not be heavy traffic during those days.
Tim
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: June 25, 2007, 08:47
Why do people need to be charged while exiting the Shaikh Zayed Road?
Badrul
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: June 25, 2007, 07:46
The Salik system is unnecessarily adding to the increase in the cost of living in Dubai. It will also cause a build up of traffic in alternative routes.
Chowdary
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 25, 2007, 07:37
The Salik system should be reconsidered since there are no appropriate alternative routes. Also, such road systems are usually made for highways outside city boundaries. Since Dubai is rapidly expanding into its outskirts then, I think this idea is just not practical as it will only create more road congestion.
Wissam
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: June 25, 2007, 07:24
Where there is a fast pace development, it always happens that rules change with the same speed. So it is natural for Dubai to implement what is necessary to keep a check on keeping our daily life running on smooth speed. We should be optimistic because this is really a favour to the general public.
Suhail
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 25, 2007, 06:52
The implementation of Salik should be delayed until alternative routes are in place.
Nabiel
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 25, 2007, 05:41
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