Dubai: The paid parking system has been extended to at least three more residential streets in Hor Al Anz, as the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) widens its network of paid parking zones across Dubai.
Many new areas in the city have been included in paid parking zones, including sections of Al Nahda, Al Qusais, Al Mankhool and Al Safa, many of which are purely residential enclaves.
Most of Hor Al Anz, which is a mixture of commercial and residential sections, is already a paid parking area. Some streets were exempt — but not anymore.
“I don’t understand why paid parking is introduced in residential areas. Most of the buildings here are old and don’t have parking facilities so people are forced on park on the streets and with the introduction of paid parking people will have to sell their cars,” said Mohan, an technician who recently moved to the area.
Paid parking meters were recently installed in three streets of Hor Al Anz — 17B, 44B and 42B — but there are no signboards to indicate the area is a paid parking zone, causing confusion.
“This is really confusing, the meters were installed last week and they have been active since then, but there are no sign boards to indicate this is a paid parking area. There is no zone number written and we can’t do mParking,” said Mahmoud Mohammad, who has been living on street 42B for four years.
Like other sections of Hor Al Anz, there is a shortage of parking spaces in these streets due to which residents have been parking their cars in narrow unpaved alleys between buildings as well as empty car parks nearby.
However, people fear with the introduction of the paid system parking in these unpaved areas could attract fines from authorities.
“I have been living in this area for more than 20 years, with every passing year the parking problem has increased here. We don’t find proper space so we usually park in the alleys and now if they close it down, I don’t understand where people will keep their cars,” said Syed Mubarak.
No official statement was forthcoming from RTA, but a senior official said on condition of anonymity that paid parking would be operational in the area only once the signboards are installed and notices issued to residents.
“No motorist will be fined for now if they don’t pay, we will announce once the paid paring system is operational,” said the official.
