The enforcement of parking regulations in Tecom has been postponed. Fines were due to be issued to those parking off-street, such as on sandy areas, without a permit from Sunday. The affected areas are Knowledge Village, Media City and Internet City.
“Tecom is currently rezoning the area, which has forced us to postpone implementation of the parking permit until April 13,” said Adel Mohammed Al Marzooqi, director of the parking department at the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
The three areas will be segregated into four parking zones – S1 to S4.
Mr Al Marzooqi said the cost of a permit for each zone would be Dh2,500 for one year or Dh700 for three months.
“These prices come from Tecom and not the RTA, and permit applications must go through Tecom for approval before we can issue them,” he said.
The regulations do not affect areas where parking meter systems are already in force.
Mr Al Marzooqi said the multistory car park in Media City was free, apart from the first and second floors. “Everyone says there is no parking but nobody is using this parking,” he said.
Tecom was also planning to add three or four paved parking areas, he added.
The delay was welcomed by Erkan Gassaloglu, 21, a Middlesex University student from Turkey.
“My semester ends in April so I’ll only have to pay for parking for two weeks,” said the third-year business administration student.
“All my friends at university have been stressing about parking since they announced it would be paid,” he said.
“Roaming around searching for parking may make us late for class or, even worse, exams.
“Parking should stay free or have the university cover the cost.”
Mr Al Marzooqi said: “Universities should apply to Tecom for permits as each university is responsible for their own parking.”
