ABU DHABI // Pay parking schemes will be expanded across the capital in the next three years to tackle the space shortage and improve traffic flow, says the Department of Transport.
News of additional parking bays was welcomed by residents who have struggled to find a place to park their vehicles in the city’s residential and business districts.
Ahmad Sharara, 25, a Jordanian office manager, singled out the area around the National Bank of Abu Dhabi on the junction of Khaleej Al Arabi Street and Corniche Road, and the Al Nahyan Camp area as among the hardest places to park.
There are more than 100,000 parking lots on the streets which Mawaqif regulates. Mawaqif is the arm of the department that is responsible for parking management, issuing regulations and enforcing the parking law.
“I live in Mushrif area, so parking is not a problem near my home,” said Mr Sharara, who was born and raised in the UAE. “However, I find it difficult to find a spot in most commercial areas in the city.”
In 2014, there were 106 controlled parking spaces, 54 Mawaqif sectors, 132 women-only parking bays and 60,252 parking permits, according to the department’s sustainability report.
Dinesh Shetty, 34, an Indian operations manager and Abu Dhabi resident of 14 years, said he found it hard to find parking spaces.
Although there was residents-only parking for parking permit holders such as Mr Shetty, he often found himself circling the car park for 30 minutes to find a space.
A residents-only parking area for permit holders is available between 9pm and 8am. The permits are available to property owners, tenants and their families.
An annual parking permit costs Dh800 for the first car and Dh1,200 for the second.
“I paid Dh800 for a resident parking permit,” said Mr Shetty, who lives in Al Ziyani area.
“When my family and I go out for dinner in the evening, we usually leave our car behind and take a taxi.”
There was also an acute lack of parking spaces in the Tourist Club (Al Zahiya) area, behind Al Ahalia Hospital on Hamdan Street, and in the Al Nahyan Camp area, he said.
Ismail Al Dhaheri, a 26-year-old Emirati civil servant, said he found it difficult to park almost everywhere in the city.
“It’s a problem but I’m sure Mawaqif is doing something about it,” he said.
A Department of Transport spokesman said it was studying the needs of the public and providing parking spaces to meet demand.
“It is also building additional parking bays by utilising available road spaces, off-street parking and park-and-ride facilities in Khalidiya, Al Danah, Mushrif and Al Khubeirah areas,” he said.
Mawaqif will monitor the demand for parking spaces, and the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council will provide the required land and acquire the funds to build the parking spaces.
Mr Shetty voiced his support for the construction of more multi-storey car parks in Abu Dhabi’s commercial and residential areas.
“We hope Mawaqif can build more multi-storey and basement parking lots in the future,” he said.
The plan to build additional multi-storey car parks is being considered by Abu Dhabi Municipality, which works closely with the Department of Transport to identify needs and demands of motorists.
rruiz@thenational.ae
