For whom the Salik tolls

The introduction of any new road and transportation system should take into consideration the affect it would have on those who would be using it. Bringing about drastic changes without calculating the consequences would only prove to be counterproductive.

The second phase of Salik, which was introduced by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) on Tuesday, has once again brought to the test the viability of this new concept for managing the roads in and around the city. Congestion, delays and bottlenecks were the day's hallmark, which affected many main and alternative roads.

Perhaps what complicated the situation further is the fact that the operation of this new phase has coincided with the Ramadan and the reopening of schools. The introduction of the second phase of toll gates has turned into a burden for a majority of commuters.

The idea behind launching a toll system is understandable, as it is a system that has been implemented successfully in many parts of the world. But before imposing it, the full consequences should have been taken into account. After all, the new toll gate is established to ease and facilitate commuting on the roads and not turn them into a nightmare.