Salik (road toll)
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Salik (In Arabic: سالك meaning "clear and moving") is the name given to the road toll system in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The system has been criticized by many residents of the city state for being an added expense for them, and for shifting traffic problems rather than solving them. Despite this Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) implemented it on 1 July 2007.
Motorists have to buy a Dh100 pre-paid card that is affixed to their windscreens. Dh4 will automatically be deducted from their account each time they pass through toll gate. Initially there are two toll gates, one near Al Garhoud Bridge, and one near Mall of the Emirates on Sheikh Zayed Road, but it is expected that more toll gates will be installed in future. The maximum charge per day per car using the tolled roads will be Dh24. Alternative routes include Al Maktoum Bridge, Business Bay Crossing, Floating Bridge (close to Al Maktoum Bridge; connects Al Ittihad Road (in Deira) with Al Riyadh Street (in Bur Dubai)), Al Khail Road, and Emirates Road.
[edit] Technology
The Salik Tags are the passive type RFID tags. Means it is powered by the transceiver in the toll gate and no battery is required for it. Radio frequency identification (RFID) is an automatic identification method, relying on storing and remotely retrieving data using devices called RFID tags or transponders.
An RFID tag is an object that can be applied to or incorporated into a product, animal, or person for the purpose of identification using radiowaves. Some tags can be read from several meters away and beyond the line of sight of the reader.
[edit] Criticism of Salik
Even though the tolls started on July 1st, many commuters have criticised the RTA for implementing Salik, too soon, since alternative routes have become jammed. The initial hiccups of SMS alerts not being received by customers was traced to incorrect mobiles. Now the SMS alerts have become a critical component of the service and ensures that the customers receive their account information more accurately.
The biggest fault of Salik seems to be the fact that purchase of a Salik tag is tied to the car, instead of the owner. This means that a commuter from Abu Dhabi, or a neighbouring Gulf country who drives into Dubai will be forced to purchase a sticker which he/she will have to stick on the windshield for the life of the car. So, the traveller who might come into Dubai once a year or less, will have to keep the orange sticker on the windshield permanently, just in case he/she decides to return to Dubai after a couple of months or years.
The RTA has said that a maximum of 24 dirhams will be billed to each account per day, and any travel beyond that would be free. This could cause problems for taxi passengers, who would not be sure whether they have to pay an additional 4 dirhams each time they pass the bridge, since they cannot confirm if the taxi has already passed the toll gates 6 times and got his earlier passengers to pay an additional 4 dirham per trip. This confusion could give rise to all kinds of arguments between taxi drivers and passengers.
Update on July 8th, 2007 to taxi fares. Looks like the RTA spotted their blooper. They have released an advertisement in the local papers apologizing for some of their delays and go on to mention that there is no cap on taxi fares. This means that all passengers will pay 4 dirhams irrespective of how many trips the taxi has made through the toll gates.
Motor-cyclists are even more confused since the RTA have yet to clarify where exactly should the Salik tag be stuck, if the motorcycle does not have a windshield.
When Salik was launched on 1 July 2007, some of the advertised alternate routes were not yet completed. Floating Bridge opened to the public on 16 July 2007, two weeks after Salik began. Salik has begun to mixed reviews. Those travelling on Al Garhoud Bridge seem happy that it is no longer congested, while others on Sheikh Zayed Road are dismayed especially since there are many exit points before and after the Al Barsha toll gates. This has led to an influx of traffic into neighbouring residential areas of the Springs, Greens and Al Barsha communities. Truck drivers and heavy vehicles trying to dodge the Al Barsha toll gate are causing nightmares and heavy jams in the these once, quieter communities.
[edit] External links
- www.salik.ae - Official Website of the Salik scheme
- Salik - news summary and information
- Gulf News - coverage of Salik toll
- Salik - The Dubai Road Toll — ArabianBusiness.com
