(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Residents irked by paid parking zones in free sandy areas
Sharjah: New private paid parking areas have come up in various parts of Sharjah like at Al Qasimiya Al Tawoon and Buheirah adding to the financial burdens of residents who used to park their cars in sandy areas for free.
The private paid parking that has come up in Al Qasimiya area. — KT photo by M Sajjad
Residents said all the sandy areas have been fenced and made private paid parking zones which is more expensive than municipality parking rates. Residents now have to choose between public parking and these new private paid parking but either way they have to pay.
The private parking area charges Dh5 per hour; they also offer monthly charges which range from Dh300 to 500.
The paid parking zones are in fact providing good business to the owners as there is no other choice when it comes to parking for residents.
According to municipality officials the sandy areas have been bought or rented out from the government by the owners and they are fenced and set up at their own cost. The owners then hire employees to collect money from motorists. The owners have to however obtain licenses and legal approval documents to practice the business.
Mohammed K an employee at the private parking zone told Khaleej Times that they charge Dh5 per hour. According to him residents in the area are forced to pay monthly or annually because it is cheaper than paying by the hour. “Those who pay by the hour are mostly visitors to the area or shoppers. It’s good business as many people have been forced to park their cars here. This area was free before but the owner bought the plot for this business” he said.
Residents of Al Qasimiya area who used to park their cars for free in the sandy area exactly behind the Amiri court said they are as unhappy with the private parking as it adds to their financial burdens. The municipality charges are cheaper.
Mohammed Allam Aldeen a resident said there is no place to park for free in Sharjah city. It’s better to move further down to remote areas and drive long distances to save on parking charges rent hikes utility bills and expensive commodities. Every time something new comes up to swallow our saving; in fact there are no more savings. Things add up and salaries remain the same; I don’t know how can people with low incomes manage to survive here.
Saeed Abdull Rahman another resident said businessmen use the land to make easy money. Actually it’s good business they don’t have to construct anything all they have to do is install a fence mark spaces and employ an Asian man to manage the parking lot and charge motorists by the hour said Rahman. They even make up to Dh10000 per day. They don’t care about how residents with low income struggle to survive. These parking lots have been established in areas where mostly people with middle and low income live. “For me I find it difficult to pay for parking my car here or in the public parking area. I’m forced to park my car far away from my apartment and I walk home. In the morning I have to walk up to my car and it is very difficult especially during summer. I know about two plots of land being used by landlords as paid parking areas” he noted.
Vishnu another resident prefers public parking as it is cheaper. “As soon as private paid parking came up I took an annual subscription for public parking which costs me Dh2300 per year. But not everyone can afford this.” said Vishnu.
Landlords exploiting residents
Residents living in crowded areas of the city such as Abu Shaghara Al Wahda and Jamal Abuld Al Nasar areas told Khaleej Times that some landlords have created parking lots in their plots and exploit residents by charging them Dh2500 as an annual fee for parking one vehicle.
They added that some landlords of old buildings which do not have parking within are using the land close by as parking space. When parking there used to be free earlier now they are charging for it.
A watchman of one of the buildings said residents are being charged about Dh2500 annually for parking their cars in these areas.
The watchman claimed that the municipality has approved these charges and added that the landlord is planning to extend the existing parking area to accommodate more cars.
“About 30 out of 60 residents in the building are paying for parking their cars at the paid parking area behind the building” the watchman explained saying that residents have expressed resentment over being charged extra for parking.
Hani Khalifa a resident said: “We are being exploited by landlords who are taking advantage of the lack of parking space in the area.”
Some of the residents also complained about the high charges. One of the residents said he has two cars and cannot afford to pay Dh5000 for using this parking areas.
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