Drivers welcome increase in parking spots in Al Markaziyah

The Department of Transport announced that 207 Mawaqif parking bays were being built, bringing the number of paid spaces in the area to 1,824 from 1,617.

ABU DHABI // Drivers have welcomed the construction of new parking bays in a busy residential and commercial district of Abu Dhabi where it can often take hours to find a space.

The Department of Transport announced on Monday that 207 additional Mawaqif spots were being built around Al Markaziyah, bringing the number of paid spaces to 1,824.

These are located in the blocks between Khalifa Street, Hamdan Street, Sheikh Zayed Street and Fatima bint Mubarak Street.

“Inshallah, it will be ready after two weeks,” said a Mawaqif inspector.

Joy Nareparambil, 52, who owns two cars, said he was happy to hear that more spaces would be available near his home.

The lack of parking spaces has been causing frustration among residents and visitors to the Lulu Centre and Southern Fried Chicken buildings on Sheikh Zayed Street, formerly Salam Street, since last year.

“Finding parking spaces every day between 1pm and 4pm and after 9pm is impossible,” said Mr Nareparambil, who has lived in the Southern Fried Chicken building for 11 years. “I end up parking near Al Ain Palace Hotel near the Corniche Road and take a taxi to my home.”

For a few months last year, the sandy area in front of the two buildings was clogged with illegally parked cars and lorries until Mawaqif began issuing fines to the drivers.

“I was fined once but they cancelled it after I contested it,” said Alladin El Qaza, 50, a manager of a contracting company. “We asked Mawaqif to provide more spaces for us to park.”

The expansion is part of a long-term parking strategy to reduce illegal parking and create a smoother flow of traffic, the DoT said.

“When I learnt they were building a parking lot I wanted to dance,” Mr El Qaza said. “I used to drive around in circles and later sit in my car for one hour until someone left.”

Dani Kawash, 31, an administration manager from Jordan, hopes the new parking bays will be ready soon. He has racked up Dh1,800 in parking fines since moving to the area in October.

“I spend at least one hour circling the block every day,” he said. “But when I’m really desperate, I park my car on the side of the road.”

Iqbal Sulaiman, 38, a Lulu Centre manager, said he expected sales to increase when the Mawaqif paid parking is switched on.

“Everybody is willing to pay for parking, but so far there’s no available space around our building,” Mr Sulaiman said.