By Ashfaq Ahmed, Chief Reporter www.gulfnews.com
Dubai: The free parking lot at the Nakheel Harbour and Tower Metro Station is gradually getting popular with more motorists using the ‘park and ride’ facility.
“There has been significant increase of number of motorists parking their cars here as around 500 to 600 motorists use this parking every day to continue their journey on the Metro,” a senior official at the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) told Gulf News.
He said the number of cars increased to more than 1,000 during the weekend especially Thursday, Friday and Saturdays. The parking lot has the capacity of around 3,000 cars.
During a visit to the parking lot, Gulf News found out that a large number of commuters from Abu Dhabi and Al Ain are using the ‘park and ride facility’ and use the Metro to go to the shopping malls and other areas in the central business districts of Deira and Bur Dubai.
Convenient
However, a larger number of parking spaces are taken by commuters from Discovery Gardens, Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Lake Towers, The Gardens and other newly developed areas. Commuters say that it was very convenient to park cars here and take the metro.
“I always use this parking lot to use metro to go to my office in Bur Dubai because it is not only convenient for me but also saves me from traffic congestion, Salik toll charges and the hassle of finding parking in Bur Dubai above all the parking charges,” said Jane Pearce, a British national who lives in The Gardens. She said that it was a five star parking facility as it is very neat and has excellent staff to help the motorists.
Shireen Mirza, an Indian national, said that she mostly uses the Nakheel Harbour and Tower Station parking lot in the evening while going for shopping.
“It is very relaxing to park the car and use the Metro to go shopping. Now, I can go to various shopping malls on the Red Line,” she said. She noted that the parking wardens are so helpful that they even help her carry her shopping from the station to her car.
The RTA has built a total of three lots to provide free parking to the Metro users. Two parking plazas area including one at Al Rashidiya Station with a capacity for 2,700 cars and the other at Nakheel Harbour and Tower Stations are currently operational on the Red Line.
Upgrade: Automated system
The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is in the process of installing a state-of-the-art car parking management system to make it easier for motorists to park their cars without wasting time.
An RTA official said the parking system will soon be automated to help allot parking spaces to motorists.
