News Dubai

Road toll system 'will clog traffic'
By Bassma Al Jandaly, Staff Reporter

Dubai: The new road toll system will clog traffic rather than ease it, said a top police official.

Brigadier Mohammad Saif Al Zafein, Director, General Department of Traffic, Dubai Police, told Gulf News that the police has nothing to do with the new [Salik] road toll system as they were not consulted at any time.

"The Road and Transport Authority (RTA) officials didn't approach the traffic department for consultation or advice in our specialty, which is road safety and traffic flow. We learnt about the toll system from the media," he said.

The road toll system has been set up in many countries, but those nations have a fully functional road network, transport and metro systems, he said.

"Many roads in Dubai are under construction and many others being reconstructed, the metro needs sometime to be ready, more interchanges are needed - so how can the RTA start the road toll system without easing traffic [flow] and offering alternative roads for the public," wondered Brigadier Al Zafein.

Hope

"I hope Salik will be successful in reducing traffic. We heard that within 15 days Salik will be implemented on the link [road] from Al Garhoud Bridge till the Dubai Police Academy Bridge on Shaikh Zayed Road in both directions.

"But the entries and exits to that link will not have a toll system. So motorists can take alternative routes which lead to Shaikh Zayed Road, without having to use the two bridges," he said.

He said the same will happen to those who are taking the other direction of the road. "Al Khail, Emirate, Al Wasl, Jumeirah and Al Safouh roads will face heavy traffic and roads will be congested for long hours," said Brigadier Al Zafein.

RTA declared that the road that links Al Garhoud Bridge and the Academy Bridge is free, he said and added: "The question is why they add fees for that ten kilometre road as if traffic is only at that part of the road. Will that ease traffic on all Dubai roads? I believe that the opposite will happen and traffic will worsen."

He urged RTA to pause the project for sometime and reconsider their decision because "if they go ahead with it, it will negatively impact motorists and traffic accidents will increase".