Abu Dhabi to conduct field study on toll plan

Recommendations of transport department to be sent to Executive Council for approval

The Abu Dhabi Department of Transport will undertake an integrated field study to determine the requirements and implementation of the proposed traffic toll system, the department announced yesterday.

Its recommendations on toll charges, locations and technical requirements will be sent to the Abu Dhabi Executive Council for approval.

Khalifa Al Mazroui, undersecretary at the department, said the traffic tolls would help reduce congestion on the roads while helping to sustainably develop an advanced transport network.

Law No. 17 of 2017 was issued last December by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan to implement traffic tolls in the capital. According to the law, the Department of Transport will be in charge of implementing the tolls in collaboration with other entities.

Vehicle owners will have to eventually subscribe to the toll system before passing through the toll gates, and abide by all other applicable regulations. Transport authorities will also refer all monitored violations to the competent authority to take the necessary measures against offenders.

The law has exempted ambulances, public buses, motorcycles and vehicles of the Armed Forces and Civil Defence from the upcoming tolls. However, other drivers who cross a toll gate without paying can face fines up to Dh10,000.