Bahrain motorists complain of defunct parking machines that make them traffic violators

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Staff Reporter 

Motorists are frequently complaining about the defunct parking machines, which they say, have resulted in turning them into traffic rule violators, who often end up paying fines for illegal parking.

The parking machines were installed during the past years as part of initiatives to streamline the parking system while putting a full stop to illegal parking, which has been quite prevalent across Manama.

They demonstrate the Works Ministry’s efforts to provide the best services by enhancing the capacity of the available parking spaces, supporting the commercial activity and helping citizens accomplish the works that require a short time, organising traffic, and alleviating traffic congestion resulting from wrong parking.

Speaking to The Daily Tribune, many motorists urged immediate intervention on the part of authorities. “As many machines, especially across Manama are defunct, we are forced to park without being able to pay the fee.

And traffic cops often find us as violators before imposing fines on us,” they say.

The installation of parking machines has been carried out by the Works Ministry in association with the Traffic Directorate since 2014.

The first parking meters were installed in Manama Souq and areas in the proximity and Muharraq before being gradually implemented across Bahrain.

According to the Works Ministry, most of these pay and park machines work on solar energy and don’t require electrical connections. “One machine has the capacity to serve 20 parking spaces and it can be programmed and tracked through a computer network.

“The pay and park meters work on solar energy and do not require electrical connections. Also, they have the capacity to serve 20 parking spaces. The meter can be programmed and tracked through a computer network.” It is learnt that the ministry has plans to issue special parking cards.

Despite the ministry insisting that maintenance of the machines is very limited, many machines have become defunct, according to motorists.

Illegal parking is one of the most common legal violations committed by many citizens and residents in Bahrain, who are often slapped with fines by the Traffic Department.

In spite of an increasing number of parking violations across the country, many vehicle owners say the authorities have done little to address the issue. The parking crisis is generally attributed to the rising number of vehicles with fewer parking spaces.

As many as 450 car parking lots have been provided across Bahrain during the first quarter of this year, according to the Works Ministry.

Among the new parking lots provided, 163 were in the Southern Governorate, 120 in the Northern Governorate, 97 in Muharraq and 70 in the Capital Governorate. The ministry said the cost of setting up these parking spaces amounted to BD90,000 while more funds have been earmarked to construct more parking spaces in the future.