Motorists driving to Dubai from Sharjah and the neighbouring emirates will soon have to pay a Dh3 to Dh5 toll, Gulf News has learnt.
"The project is now in the tendering stage," an official from Dubai Municipality said. The source said the municipality has studied the traffic situation over the past two months.
The toll system has been chosen as a useful measure to reduce unnecessary traffic, and encourage car pools.
The toll system is intended to limit the number of vehicles entering Dubai, to encourage car pooling and to ease traffic congestion.
Vehicles travelling from the northern emirates to Abu Dhabi through Dubai will also have to pay the toll.
People who travel from Sharjah to Dubai via Emirates Road, Al Ittihad Road, the Al Mamzar exit on Al Itihad Road or any other road that links the two emirates will have to pay the toll.
The amount of the proposed toll and the method of collecting it will be decided by the municipality and Dubai Police.
Gulf News has learnt that the fee will be a fixed rate, between Dh3 and Dh5 and authorities will issue to motorists prepaid cards and electronic transponders so they can track vehicle movements and collect the tolls.
The toll amount will be deducted from the card every time a vehicle enters or leaves Dubai at specific locations.
Sources in the civic agency said that local authorities have notified the Federal Government about the planned system.
