Deira-SZR trip a breeze

Gulf News reporter Sunita Menon tells us her commute experience during Day 1 of the Salik road toll system.

Dubai: I drove on the free exit route to work from Al Nahada via the airport tunnel to Gulf News. It usually takes about an hour and more to get on to the Shaikh Zayed road via the airport tunnel route from Al Nahda in Sharjah, but today morning driving on the same route was like driving a knife through butter.

I started at 9:15am from Al Nahda and arrived at the Gulf News office at 9:40 am. In just 25 minutes. Unbelievable!

There was no traffic congestion and motorists were found maintaining a perfect road discipline. The usual sight of violators being fined by police patrols on the hard shoulders was also missing.

My mobile never stopped ringing as my friends as well colleagues who have taken various other routes could not help but say how wonderful they felt driving to work.

"It is absolutely fantastic! The roads looked shampooed and more importantly, I am very happy. I am just happy. For the first time I am enjoying driving to work," said a friend.

Another friend said: "I reached my work place in 15 minutes from Deira to Shaikh Zayed Road. This is good! I was a bit sceptical about the toll making any difference on the traffic congestion. But I am happy to say that it has indeed made a difference to my life."