Dubai's parking problems will ease soon as new car parks are opened up.
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) plans to create 29,840 lots by 2009.
The RTA's parking department has already provided 11,480 paid spaces over the past two years. And a further 11,000 will be in place by the start of next year.
"We are studying all possible ways to ease the current problem, especially in residential and commercial areas," said Hussain Al Banna, acting director of parking.
He said 6,240 paid slots would be created in Dubai in 2008 and an additional 12,600 in 2009.
"As well as providing new car park areas, existing free spaces - particularly those in residential areas - will be turned into paid parking," added Al Banna.
"The RTA is responding to the urgent need for parking space, especially as the number of registered vehicles increase in Dubai daily.
"We are working on a scheme to put an end to the current woes in the Central Business Districts of Deira and Bur Dubai." Plans include introducing one-way systems and closing off lanes for use as parking.
And access to some busy areas could be restricted to public vehicles.
The RTA hopes to further ease the emirate's parking problems by encouraging the use of public transport.
Al Banna said solutions currently being implemented include building multi-storey car parks and stricter enforcement of parking rules.
Al Banna said 1,400 old parking meters will be replaced with new systems adding that there will be no increase in parking charges.
"The RTA is studying different ways to improve the efficiency of parking use in Dubai but the methods are not necessary related to parking fees," he said.
Bur Dubai businessman Ilyas Khabad, 34, said introducing new parking slots would help reduce illegal parking, which is often the only option left for many.
"In busy areas people end up parking illegally because they cannot find a space," he said.
"More parking spaces will put an end to this problem." A total of 29,648,562 tickets have been issued to motorists for parking offences since the beginning of this year. Last year, 36,734,890 tickets were issued.
By Ashaba K Abdul Basti
© Emirates Today 2007
