betaald parkeren komt ook in Doha
Introduction of paid parking in some of the most frequented areas in Doha has resulted in motorists taking up whatever free space is available nearby, causing congestion on side streets and alleys in the city.
“Parking a car was never a problem in our area before even though it lies in the heart of Doha,” a man living close to the Arab Bank Roundabout said yesterday.
“But introduction of paid parking at Souq Waqif has resulted in motorists occupying all the space near our home, making driving a nightmare in our neighbourhood,” he said.
Souq Waqif, visited by thousands every day, has introduced a nominal parking fee (QR3 per entry) after Eid al-Fitr last year.
“Uncontrolled parking often reduces the two-lane road near our house to a narrow alley, requiring extreme effort to get a vehicle in or out,” the resident fumed.
The chronic parking problem of Doha has been exacerbated recently thanks to the surge in the city’s population as well as the increase in the number of residents owning more than one vehicle. According to Traffic Department figures, a staggering 10,000 new vehicles hit the country’s roads every month.
To avoid gridlocks, locations such as airport and souqs have introduced paid parking.
The Doha International Airport introduced paid parking in 2004 but allows free parking for 15 minutes (afterwards QR4 per hour). Motorists not willing to shell out the fee occupy the space all around the airport mosque, blocking parking to people going to the immigration office nearby.
“Scores of illegal taxi operators hang out in the area for potential passengers. They take up all the space available, making it difficult for people who want to visit the airport immigration office for genuine needs,” a bank’s mandoob maintained.
“Qatar has seen an explosion in the number of vehicles on its roads. It is almost impossible to get a parking space anywhere near offices or souqs in Doha,” another resident complained.
“Residential complexes which provide parking facility to tenants generally offer space for one vehicle but many families own three vehicles or more,” he added.
City Center Doha is likely to introduce a paid parking system next month.
Most of its 1,600 parking spaces are now taken up by people who work in offices nearby as many of the buildings in the area do not have enough parking, according to the mall management.
Mall director Christoph Von Oelhafen, however, said that although charged parking would be introduced soon, the shopping centre did not wish to charge its customers.
source: gulftimes
“Parking a car was never a problem in our area before even though it lies in the heart of Doha,” a man living close to the Arab Bank Roundabout said yesterday.
“But introduction of paid parking at Souq Waqif has resulted in motorists occupying all the space near our home, making driving a nightmare in our neighbourhood,” he said.
Souq Waqif, visited by thousands every day, has introduced a nominal parking fee (QR3 per entry) after Eid al-Fitr last year.
“Uncontrolled parking often reduces the two-lane road near our house to a narrow alley, requiring extreme effort to get a vehicle in or out,” the resident fumed.
The chronic parking problem of Doha has been exacerbated recently thanks to the surge in the city’s population as well as the increase in the number of residents owning more than one vehicle. According to Traffic Department figures, a staggering 10,000 new vehicles hit the country’s roads every month.
To avoid gridlocks, locations such as airport and souqs have introduced paid parking.
The Doha International Airport introduced paid parking in 2004 but allows free parking for 15 minutes (afterwards QR4 per hour). Motorists not willing to shell out the fee occupy the space all around the airport mosque, blocking parking to people going to the immigration office nearby.
“Scores of illegal taxi operators hang out in the area for potential passengers. They take up all the space available, making it difficult for people who want to visit the airport immigration office for genuine needs,” a bank’s mandoob maintained.
“Qatar has seen an explosion in the number of vehicles on its roads. It is almost impossible to get a parking space anywhere near offices or souqs in Doha,” another resident complained.
“Residential complexes which provide parking facility to tenants generally offer space for one vehicle but many families own three vehicles or more,” he added.
City Center Doha is likely to introduce a paid parking system next month.
Most of its 1,600 parking spaces are now taken up by people who work in offices nearby as many of the buildings in the area do not have enough parking, according to the mall management.
Mall director Christoph Von Oelhafen, however, said that although charged parking would be introduced soon, the shopping centre did not wish to charge its customers.
source: gulftimes
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