Lack of parking lots, thickly populated residential areas, increase in rents and low maintenance of buildings are some of the major problems faced by residents living in Bur Dubai.
This week Gulf News, took to the streets of Bur Dubai and asked residents for suggestions they would like to make that would ease some of the problems.
Kevin D'Souza, a 48-year-old Indian product manager, said he finds it difficult to find parking space near the bank where he works.
"Sometimes I have to double park in the bank's parking lot and leave my name and phone number with the parking attendant. It's very hard to find a parking spot in this street."
Mohammad Asif, 26, an Indian, said accommodation in Bur Dubai is a major problem.
"You find someone who rents the apartment from the landlord and sub-lets it to 10 other people for Dh300 a month. Instead of three people living in one room, you find 10 to 15.
"This can also make finding parking space difficult. It is already a big problem on Al Fahidi Street. Another problem is the lack of maintenance of some buildings, you can tell this by just looking around," he said.
Renuka Kriplani, a 25-year-old Indian receptionist, said the rent is too high and the parking lots are far from her house.
"There is a shortage of buses. There's only one bus through Al Fahidi Street. In addition to this, there are only two bus stops on the street."
Ramesh, 32, feels that compared to other areas like Al Karama and Al Satwa, the rents are steep.
"As for the parking problem, I think it's a huge problem. I park my car in a lot near a nearby hotel, where I pay Dh80 a month. Although there is private paid parking, you have to pay Dh250 a month for parking your car there."
Hussain P., an Indian salesman in a watch shop, emphasised that the need of the hour is to expand the paid parking facilities.
V.K. Relwani, an Indian businessman, suggests the construction of underground parking as a solution.
He said: "Bur Dubai is more of a commercial area than a residential one. There are so many small and big shops located close to each other. By evening you find shoppers going round and round the place for hours yet unable to find a parking."
For Naaz, an Indian saleswoman, the rise in rents has made it impossible for her to live with her husband.
"I live in bed space. The rent I pay for that small accommodation is Dh650. My husband stays in his company accommodation. He cannot take me there because the company accommodation is only for single men."
Siraj. A.P., an Indian salesman, said that since he cannot afford to pay the ever rising rents all over Dubai, he is forced to live in sharing accommodation with four other people.
"The ever increasing rents in a place even in an area such as Bur Dubai where majority of the people fall in the middle income group is breaking up families. I live in a three-bedroom apartment.
"Each room is sublet to other people. For example, in my room there are four other people sharing the place with me. Similar is the case in the other two rooms. We pay Dh400 each."
Hatim Ali, an Indian businessman, said: "Poor parking facilities is affecting our business."
Neeta Massand, a resident of Bur Dubai, suggested present parking lots be converted to multi-storeyed ones.
Gulf News
