RTA: Salik for cabs not yet approved

The Roads and Transport Authority CEO has said the organisation has not decided whether the Salik toll will be charged by cabs or not, despite media reports to the contrary.

RTA CEO Essa Abdul Rahman Al Dosari said that a system which would levy a Salik toll on taxis when they are occupied, but not when they are vacant, is being studied and is pending approval.

A senior RTA source said more time was required to reintroduce Salik toll charging system, according to the company tasked with operating Salik tollgates, despite reports suggesting the system would commence from January 1 next year.

The source said that the RTA had thought of imposing Salik toll on cabs after winding up the second phase of Dubai Metro, saying the RTA had reflected deeply on the project and would announce its details shortly.

Yasir Arafat, a taxi driver said: “It won’t make much of a difference to taxi drivers because the customer has to pay for it. People who prefer using taxis shouldn’t mind paying Salik as all other motorists have to pay for it.”

Another taxi driver in Dubai, Mukammal Khan, said it was too early to know how the move would affect regular taxi commuters.

“Once the system is implemented, we will know the change in ridership. It is an extra cost for a passenger and it might turn off some people who use the taxi services to get around the city.”

He added that the taxi divers had not been notified of the any changes yet and they had only heard about the announcement on the radio.

Commuters were quick to criticise the move as the added toll cost would make journeys more expensive. One commuter, who did not wish to be named said if there are plans to implement Salik charges for taxi users the RTA should consider reducing the starting fare from Dh10.

In April last year, the Dubai Department of Finance (DoF) announced the launch of a six-year term dual currency financing operation, amounting to a total of $800 million, through which Salik revenues would be reinvested in RTA projects.

Salik tollgates managed to cut the travel time taken during a drive from the fourth interchange on Shaikh Zayed Road, near Mall of the Emirates, ahead to Al Nahda intersection from 79 to 27 minutes.

The gates have improved the operational ability of roads to 66 percent. Likewise, the vehicular traffic on Al Garhoud Bridge has decreased 30 percent, and Al Maktoum Bridge by 33 percent.

On the contrary, vehicles using the Business Bay Crossing increased to 47 per cent, and to 7 per cent on the Emirates highway.

mustafa@khaleejtimes.com

muaz@khaleejtimes.com