Dubai schools and college buses go toll free

Khaleej Times
DUBAI — School and college buses in all emirates will be exempted from Salik, or road toll, in Dubai from August 31, §§ has learnt.

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) also plans to introduce new regulations governing public and private schools in the emirate and would be meeting principals on Wednesday.

The RTA informed the schools recently that they would be exempted from the Dh4 toll once they submit their bus registration cards to the authority to prove their affiliation to the institutions concerned.

Confirming the initiative, Salah Al Marzouqi, Director of the Intelligent Traffic Systems (ITS) at the RTA, said: “We have sent letters to all schools and colleges that their buses will be exempted from Salik from the new academic year.

“However, the buses should be owned by the schools. This decision has been taken to encourage parents to use the public transport modes.

“All schools and colleges will have to submit their registration cards before the new academic year commences.”

Buses of any school or college from any emirate that transported children on the Salik routes would be exempted from the toll.

“In view of the two new Salik gates becoming active from next month, this is a well-timed decision. A huge expense has been taken off from the schools’ budget,” said Ashok Kumar, CEO and principal of Indian High School in Dubai.

Last year, when Salik was introduced, the RTA had announced that schools would be spared from the toll. However, the schools had to pay the toll every time their buses passed under the gate.

Buses owned or outsourced to transportation companies are presently not part of the move.

The RTA has invited principals, transportation companies and bus suppliers for a conference on the new regulations.

Issa Al Dossari, CEO of Public Transport Agency, RTA, said: “A new booklet containing the rules and regulations will be released on Wednesday.