Dubai: A Dubai resident was outraged when a taxi driver charged him for a Salik toll for crossing the Safa Park gate that is not yet operational.
Omar Salman Rahim took a taxi from Karama to Al Quoz, passing through the Safa Park gate that will be operational from September 9.
"This taxi driver is cheating people out of money. I find it difficult to get a taxi in the first place and then they charge you unnecessarily. I want justice - I have a family in Dubai. I know I will not get my Dh4 back, but people should be aware that the Safa Park and Maktoum Bridge gates are not working yet," he said.
The franchisee of Dubai Transport Corporation responsible for the driver concerned, said that he had returned from leave and was not aware that the Salik gate was not functional.
The taxi driver has apologised and said it was the "first and last time" he would make that mistake.
The issue was taken up with management, the company said.
Fined and warned
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has also investigated and has said that the driver has been fined and has been issued with a formal warning.
The new Safa Park Salik gate has been causing confusion among motorists, who have been slowing down when they spot it, Gulf News reported last week. A pile-up was caused last month on the approach to the new Maktoum Bridge Salik gate, after a driver apparently stopped in surprise. He said that he didn't want to receive a fine for going through the gate, which will also not be operational until September 9, Gulf News reported.
Drivers were also spotted switching off their headlights when the Salik gates were first introduced last September, to try and avoid paying the Dh4 toll. The RTA said at the time that the toll gates are capable of reading number plates at all times during the day and night.
If you cross the Al Barsha and Safa Park gates in one journey only one charge will be made, and there is a maximum charge of Dh24 per day, per vehicle.
Last August, Gulf News reported that Sharjah taxi drivers were charging a two-way Salik charge for one-way journeys to Dubai.
Passengers complained that taxi drivers were refusing to take alternative routes, because they were too congested. Sharjah taxi drivers are not allowed to take passengers back to the Emirate after drop-offs in Dubai.
Filing a complaint
Residents can find complaints systems and electronic services for government organisations via: www.ecomplain.gov.ae
Have you been a victim of this practice? What other cheating practices do you find common among taxi driver's? How do you ensure you are not cheating? Tell us at letter2editor@gulfnews.com
Your comments
This happened to me a few weeks ago. I had to argue with the driver and show him a receipt from a similar trip the day before. I believe they are trying their luck with tourist and people who do not bother about Dh4.
Andy
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 25, 2008, 09:40
I had to visit my relative in Sharjah. I took a Dubai taxi and asked the driver to take me to Rolla. Being new to the UAE, I was not aware of the route the taxi driver was taking me. In the end I had to pay Dh112.
Nashid
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 25, 2008, 09:36
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