UAE | Traffic and Transport

Road toll system 'will clog traffic'

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.

  • By Bassma Al Jandaly, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 00:00 May 17, 2007
  • Gulf News

  • Image Credit:
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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".


Your comments


What an excellent article and subsequent comments, that reassures me that the majority of Dubai has the same reservations about Salik that I do. However, all of this is of no use unless the RTA is made to see all this and understand the feelings and concerns of the majority of Dubai. Gulf News, can you follow up on this excellent article by doing a similar interview with a member of the RTA based on the above article and comments? Please ensure they address these specific concerns and not just some preformatted speech about how the system will work.
Steve
Dubai,UAE

I am 100 per cent agree with the comments given by Br. S A Zafein. 80 per cent of the roads are under construction due to metro work all routes. Due to toll system some distance will be free but it will result a greater traffic problem on the alternate free routes.
Amin
Dubai,UAE

You just voiced our grumblings...Hats off to you, Sir!
Malini
Dubai,UAE

I fully agree with the Police Chief's apprehensions and conclusions. Toll system will not be effective with the present infrastructure and numerous road/fly over works going on in parallel. RTA should consider delaying the introduction of toll on roads at least until the Metro rolls out.
Mahesh
Dubai,UAE

Finally, a gentleman who has the guts to publicly state the truth and openly criticise the goings on in our booming city.. I hope more follow from his example and speak their minds..!!
Hozefa
Dubai,UAE

I fully agree with the statement of Brigadier Al Zafein. Instead of congestion on 9 kms of road, the congestion will now be in Jumeirah.
Prasad
Dubai,UAE

The toll idea is correct but the time is not correct. I salute Brigadier Mohammad Saif Al Zafein for raising his concern at the right time. Also, there is another concern. Why the twice debit? I mean to say if person stays in Sharjah and is ready to use Garhoud and Shaikh Zayed Rd by paying toll to reach office in J/A. First debit take place at Garhoud and second again at the Mall of Emirates interchange. I think this is not correct.
Mubeen
Dubai,UAE

The traffic authority is absolutely correct. Al Wasl road, Beach Road, etc. will be completely clogged. How and in what time duration do the residents reach their homes in Jumeirah is to be seen.
Chaitanya
Dubai,UAE

Cheers to Brigadier Al Zafein. He said the right thing. I strongly feel everyone who drives a car have a similar opinion. Hope RTA will reconsider their decision.
Rejith
Sharjah,UAE

Come on RTA, our opinion should matter too. All of us can?t be wrong! Am living in Al-Quoz and coming to work in DIC. Why should one pay Dh200 for nothing. It should only start after we have metro.
Farah
Dubai,UAE

Who can judge the cities traffic chaos other than Dubai Police. I totally agree with Brigadier Al Zafein, that to avoid the toll, people will start taking alternate routes, where its just going to worsen the traffic situation. I feel the RTA should implement Salik when the road network is implemented, that includes the Metro too.
Joseph
Dubai,UAE

This is a wise judgement from the police chief. I very much appreciate his open-minded opinion. The actual result of the Salik will be the more congestion on Al Maktoum bridge and the Shindagha tunnel and the Shaikh Zayed Road will be same as before. Traffic will be eased only for a few kilometres to and from the entry and exit points.
Rajesh
Dubai,UAE

Ahem! Lack of team work again.
Felix
Dubai,UAE

I feel the same. The worst affected place will be airport tunnel. The whole traffic which currently uses Al Ittihad road will get diverted (to avoid Salik) and add on to already congested airport tunnel, which is not capable of taking that amount of traffic. Net result will be severe blockade through out the day and will spill over to arterial roads feeding into the tunnel.
Aby
Dubai,UAE

The RTA should reconsider their decision before implementing the system. As per the present system definitely it will impact negatively on motorist and traffic.
Prakash
Dubai,UAE

Brigadier Mohammad Saif Al Zafein said it right; 10 km of salik has no effect at all.
Leslie
DXB,India

The honorable director of traffic police department is absolutely right if people have the alternatives then why would they worry about using the toll road. RTA should come out with the logic that a common man has failed to understand, explaining the toll on a 10-15 kms stretch and eluding the connecting roads.
Imran
Dubai,UAE

Well said! It is the fear of the general public. Thanks to Police dept for voicing our concern.
Hussain
Dubai,UAE

This is not a road toll system - the trick is to get around the toll gates. Any traffic from Abu Dhabi or Jebel Ali will just leave the SZR before the toll gate and rejoin after the toll gate, when heading to Dubai. The toll gate serves no purpose in reducing the amount of traffic on SZR.
Anthony
Dubai,UAE

The right comment from a right person at the right time !!!! The RTA should consider his words seriously and rethink introducing the Salik.
Mohamed
Dubai,UAE

I fully agree with Brigadier Al Zafein. This toll will increase traffic on the other roads and create more problems for the motorist and police alike. This toll should be implemented only once the metro is running and it should be put on all roads so car users will be forced to reconsider the use of public transport.
Mohammad
Dubai,UAE

We totally agree with Brigadier Mohammad Saif Al Zafein?s comments on Salik road toll tax. Without having a complete infrastructure and facilities, how can they impose such tax, which will definitely worsen the traffic. I request the RTA to think about it and ease the lives of the motorists living in Dubai.
Ahmed
Dubai,UAE

I also completely support the comments made by Brigadier Mohammad Saif Al Zafein as such things are to be implemented only after having a group discussion between traffic police, RTA, etc.
Anand P
Dubai,UAE

Exactly. I foresee that Dubai-bound motorists will exit SZR at Interchange 4 or the Al Barsha exit and drive along Al Sufouh/Jumeirah Road or Al Wasl Rd to rejoin SZR at Interchange 3. Interchange 3 is not designed for this sort of rush hour traffic.
David
Dubai,UAE

I think this gentleman is totally right. What will they do if I take way home from Media City through Jumeirah 2, then come in again to Shaikh Zayed Road through the Pepsi bridge to reach my home near Emirates Towers!! I think the RTA must think more about this.
Osti
Dubai,UAE

I tend to agree with Dubai's Traffic Police. Dubai needs to blanket an entire area under the "toll" system, much like London's "congestion charge" zone for this to really work and reduce traffic congestion in the heart of the city.
Philip
London,UK

I totally agree with Brigadier Mohammad Saif Al Zafein as many people are going to use alternative roads so that they would not have to pay every time they use Shaikh Zayed Road and this will increase traffic in smaller roads like Al Khail, Al Wasl and more. So my opinion about Salik is negative.
Charl
Dubai,UAE

The toll system as proposed by RTA will increase the traffic for sure... The toll system can be implemented on a road which is build above the current road.
Shabab
Dubai,UAE

Three cheers to Brigadier Mohammad Saif Al Zafein, and to Gulf News for publishing such an honest and unbiased observation by a person who knows what he is saying. Well said! The people of Dubai will only love to give you that honour salute for sticking to your views.
Nikhil
Dubai,UAE

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