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Sharjah plans paid parking zones in residential areas

SHARJAH - Several open spaces located between buildings in Sharjah city will be turned into paid parking zones this year particularly in the vital commercial spots, Ahmed Fikri, Director General of Sharjah Municipality told Khaleej Times in an exclusive interview.

A special committee was formed to conduct a thorough study on the need for parking areas in the city. "The committee started working on the study a month ago and completed it earlier this week," Mr Fikri said, adding that a major project for the construction of a multistorey car parking was approved and was included in this year's budget of the civic body.

"The study conducted by the committee specified the exact locations of the multistorey car parking and the areas to be turned in paid parking zones," he said, disclosing that the multi-storey parking would probably be located between the King Abdul Nasser and Al Wahda Roads. "At present we will construct only one building for car parking and if the need arises we can go for more," he said.

One of the areas to be turned into parking zones is the Banks Square which is one of the busiest commercial districts in the city.

Commenting on the failure of the first experience of paid parking machines which were installed on Al Wahda Road then were removed following complaints from residents, traders and customers of the stretch of shops on the road, Mr Fikri explained: "We will not go for the ordinary payment machines. Entry to the paid parking zone will be by swiping the pre-paid cards that will be introduced specifically for the service. It will solve the earlier problems of wasting motorists' money because they used to pay the entire charge for one hour while they went to park for only a few minutes."

The municipality's budget allocated for the 2003 project accords top priority to drainage projects. One of the major projects which has already been commissioned is the installation of sewage and drainage networks in five new residential areas namely Al Ramlah, Al Jazzat, Al Falaj, Al Abar and Al Hazzana.

"The contractor has already started working on Dh30 millions project due to be completed in June this year," he said, observing that a similar project was introduced last year in the residential areas situated between Wasit Road and the sea.

Along side this project, the municipality has begun work on the sixth phase of the comprehensive sewerage project scheduled to be completed in April 2004.

"Under this phase carried out at a total cost of Dh100 millions, the sewerage treatment plant capacity will increase to 37,000 cubic metres a day," said Mr. Fikri.

A large amount of the annual budget had also been allocated for major road projects, said Mr Fikri.

He disclosed that the contractor began work on the construction of 24km of internal roads in Al Qaraen 1 and 5 areas at a cost of Dh16 millions. The project, he said, would end by the beginning of next year and will be followed by another project, which is still in the designing stage, for the construction of roads in Al Nouf, Al Jarinah and Muweileh new residential areas.

The first phase of constructing a road network in the Industrial Areas No 7, 8,9, 10 and 12 had also began while the construction of the network of roads in Industrial Areas No 1, 2,3,4, 5 and 6 is in its final stages. It has been constructed at a cost of Dh50 millions, Mr Fikri said, adding that a project is about to finish on completing the Third Industrial Road and upgrading it to three lanes in addition to building car parking lots and pedestrian pavements.

Speaking about the other projects, Mr Fikri disclosed the municipality's plan to build more community parks on the instructions of His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah.

"The experience of the community parks in the residential areas has proved successful since people need such breathers which serve not only as recreational and entertaining venues, as a place where the neighbours interact with each other while their children play in a safe and healthy environment." He said this year's budget allocates funds for the construction of 11 new community parks.