Residents encroach public 
area for parking

Melvin Mendonca/DTNN

melvin@dt.bh

Manama

You may easily find a rented house to stay in Gudaibiya, but finding a little space to park your car in the area is definitely a daunting task.

As a quick solution, some people here have found a shortcut to reserve the parking space. They have erected poles in public spaces, blocking them exclusively for their cars.

According to Ahmed, a local resident, the habit of blocking parking spaces had been in practice for many years. “Recently, the government authorities while fixing interlocks on the streets here had removed all the poles. But the poles came back to the streets within no time,” he said.

“Once the authorities left this place after finishing the interlock work, some of the residents have started erecting poles again,” he revealed.

He added that no one is entitled to reserve parking space here since it is a public space. “How can someone claim the public property as their parking area?,” he queries. “The residents would damage the vehicle if someone else tries to park their vehicle in these illegally-reserved space.” 

Even some of the residents have completely blocked the space using chains and locks. They, in fact, made it more ‘exclusive’ for their vehicles.

Urging the authorities to swing into action, Ahmed added that those people were illegally enjoying the privilege while others were suffering everyday to park their vehicles.