Salik: Is it to reduce congestion?

Salik, the new road toll system is to be introduced in Dubai from 1st July 2007

If Salik is to reduce congestion, why it is charged during off-peak time? Sheikh Zayed Road is free in the morning on Fridays. Sheikh Zayed Road towards Dubai is free in the morning any day. People drive above maximum limit during this time. So why should make people to drive an extra few kilometers to avoid toll during off-peak time only to burn more fuel and make more pollution?

I welcome the Salik if it can reduce the congestion during peak time. If somebody wants to reach urgently it is impossible on Dubai road during peak time. If Salik would provide a road free from congestion to use at the time of emergency, people would happy and any body would benefit at one or other time. Last Sunday evening I had to reach Deira at 8.00 pm for a meeting from Jebel Ali where I stay. I started at 6.45 pm which I thought would be too early. It was fine until Trade Centre where I reached in 15 minutes (approx. 25km). Then it took almost 1 hour 45 minutes from Trade Centre to Deira through Maktoum Bridge (approx. 10 km)!

It is a daily scene that vehicles going towards Maktoum Bridge and Karama queued till trade centre from the junction after Trade Centre where roads to Maktoum Bridge and Garhoud bridge part. Toll gate at Garhoud Bridge will clog the road at this junction. The current queue which reach trade centre will drag too far along Sheikh Zayed Road. Even if one is ready to pay toll at Garhoud Bridge can’t escape from the huge congestion at this junction and near trade centre due to the vehicle trying to use Maktoum Bridge to avoid toll.

Which alternate route to Garhoud Bridge can be suggested for those who are coming from Sheikh Zayed Road and ready to pay toll at Garhoud? Why should they pay toll if they have to wait at Trade Centre for hours?

Salik will also cause congestion on Jumeria Road where Burj Al Arab and Madinat Jumeira and other tourist spots are located. This will definitely put tourists and top business executives who visit Dubai in agony.

Net effect can be summarized as follows:
1. It will help reduce congestion just in between the last exit before the toll gate and first entry after the toll gate

2. Toll gate at Garhoud Bridge will create more congestion from the Junction where Sheikh Zayed road part with the road to Maktoum Bridge through Trade Centre and Sheik Zayed Road.

3. There is no alternative route to avoid excessive congestion near Trade Centre for those who are coming from Sheikh Zayed Road towards Garhoud Bridge and are ready to pay toll. They may have to spend hours to pass the Trade Centre.

4. It will increase congestion in Jumeira which will make it difficult for visitors at Burj Al Arab, Madinat Jumeria and other interested spots for business visitors and tourists.

5. It will make life miserable for those who want to go Deira and Karama from Zheikh Zayed Road. Rashid Hospital will become inaccessible for those on Sheikh Zayed Road during peak time because people will use this route to avoid toll at Garhoud Bridge.

6.Since there is no sufficient public transport system in place at this moment, Salik will not help to reduce vehicle on the road, but create more clogged exits, more congested interior roads, more congested junctions.

Suggestions
1. Salik would help to reduce number of vehicles on the road, if there is sufficient public transport system. So wait until planned public mass transport systems (metro, water taxis, dedicated bus line and more buses on more routes) are in place.

2. Salik would help to reduce congestion on targeted road, if there are more number of alternate routes to all destinations. So wait until all the planned road projects are completed.

3.Make exits and alternate route more wide adding more lines.

4. Charge only during peak time. It would help reduce pollution and consumption of fuel by eliminating excess driving to avoid toll.

Illegal Immigrants: Spot as it happen

United Arab Emirates goverment has declared 3 months amnesty for illegal immigrants to leave the country. It is a very welcom move as it helps many who became illegal because of circumstances.



Illegal immigrants are a threat to the security of the country and its residents in many ways. Government should take precautions to monitor and stop just on the spot when one become illegal immigrant. It is sure that all illegal immigrants once entered the country legally and later they becomes illegal by not renewing visas, absconding from the employer etc.


Authority can monitor those who becomes illegal by expiring their visas. Set up a division within immigration department to monitor such cases. A proactive system will alert whenever one immigrant's visa gets expired. Also a warning message should be forwarded to sponsor's mobile and email in advance. If the visa is not renewed before expiry, the monitoring department should investigate and take action. But also should be considerative to their circumstances.

There are many reason for one becoming illegal immigrant. Many cases are because of the ignorant people are cheated by greedy sponsors, visa rackets, recruiting agencies. Many are brought on vist visa taking huge amount promising job, but once they are here, they are left without any job or any help. Such cases can be found, if the department monitor expiring visas in the system and spot the sponsor with the address and other details submitted at the time of submission of visa application. This would also help to find if somebody took the visa on forged documents.

The authority, in those cases, should investigate who is errant, sponsor or the immigrant and punish them accordingly.