Trapped in parking ordeal!

Illegal parking is one of the most common legal violations committed by many citizens and residents in the Kingdom, who are often slapped with fines by the Traffic Department. Despite increasing number of parking violations across the Kingdom, many vehicle owners say the authorities have done little to address the issue. They attribute the “parking crisis” to rising number of vehicles with limited parking spaces.

A good number of apartments, housing facilities also don’t offer private parking spaces to its tenants, worsening the issue. Speaking to Tribune, a resident who doesn’t want to be identified, said “winning Abu Dhabi Big Ticket is much easier when compared to finding a parking space in Manama, especially at nights”. “I have many a time paid fines slapped on me by the Traffic Department for illegal parking.

But the authorities should understand that my car is not a portable object that could be carried home every night. “After slogging eight or nine hours in office, who has the patience left to wage a battle to win a parking space? A good number of motorists are parking inconsiderately because there is no space to leave their cars.” Kalesh Raj, an independent businessman based in the Kingdom, urged the authorities to devise a strategy to end the existing “parking ordeal”. “Frustrated residents most often end up parking illegally on pavements.

There is an imminent need to interlink the parking lots with an online network for having a clear picture of different lots. “Thus by exploring latest technologies, I believe we can solve the parking issue to a large extent.”   According to town planning consultant Dr Solmaz Mohammed, the most important reason for this crisis is the imbalance between the rate of automotive industry development and increased demand for cars and the urban infrastructure expansion and public transportation.  “Modern technologies should be explored to solve the issue.

Automated parking system, prefabricated parking garages and using of Intelligent Parking Information Technology systems can solve this issue to a large extent. But most importantly, the urban authorities should ensure that new housing projects allocate space for parking cars.” The Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry has installed parking meters on a number of commercial roads across the Kingdom to prevent violations.

According to the ministry, they are aimed at limiting the improper use of parking spaces by a certain group of people all day long, increase the number of spaces and organise parking on roads. “A survey is also being carried out to confirm the number of houses overlooking commercial roads with an aim to provide each house with a licence to occupy a number of parking spaces for free,” the ministry had said.