Hard pushed fleet operators are dismayed to hear that a number of toll gates are set to open on the Emirates Road through Dubai.
A report in several Arabic newspapers has suggested that the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) raised the proposals at a meeting of the General Budget Committee, which explores Dubai’s revenue streams for 2010.
If implemented, this will be a shift in policy away from using Salik fees as a method of encouraging drivers to use less congested routes, to that as a simple revenue generator.
Understandably, the proposals have been given a lukewarm response by local businesses.
Ninan George, a manager at Al Wasit machinery said: “The roads need to be paid for – but now is not the right time to introduce this.”
Paul Austin Price, a manager at trailer factory Gorica has another suggestion. “It might be simpler to charge all heavy good operators some sort of levvy for using the roads.”
He added that fining haulers for dangerous or overloaded trailers would have the added benefit of raising revenue, increasing road safety and by encouraging drivers not to overload their vehicles, reducing road wear in the first place.
The RTA confirmed that the proposal had been raised, but declined to speculate on the exact location or number of gates involved.