ABU DHABI — Abu Dhabi's Department of Transport (DoT) inaugurated on Wednesday the Emirate's first all-steel parking facility, Khaleed Times said on Thursday. The facility, which was completed within a three-month record time, spans over 8,252 square meters and can accommodate 562 vehicles, the Dubai-based newspaper said. The two-level structure is located south of Al Falah Street, east of Bani Yas Street, and adjacent to some of the government entities such as the Ministry of Finance, Abu Dhabi Tawteen Council and Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development. “The inauguration of the first Mawaqif steel-structure building in Abu Dhabi is in line with the DoT's strategy to come up with efficient, integrated and proactive approaches to meet parking needs," Khaleed Times quoted Mohammed Nasser Al-Otaiba, general manager of Mawaqif at the Department of Transport as saying. "Such buildings can be set up in a short span of time, and offer vehicle owners hassle-free solutions to easily reach various destinations, especially in the high traffic areas with greater need for parking bays,” Al-Otaiba.. The building is equipped with fire alarms and extinguishers, and users can easily move between storeys through the stairs, Khalleed Times said. “This kind of steel structure building is widely adopted worldwide as one of the most feasible solutions to tackle vehicle parking challenges, offering a wide spectrum of advantages such as low cost, ease and speed of building accomplishment, the ability to accommodate a larger number of vehicles as well as upholding the city's aesthetic characteristics and landmarks unaffected,” Al-Otaiba said. Mawaqif will charge a standard parking fee of Dh2 per hour and Dh15 for full day. Parking is free on Fridays as well as official holidays. “Drivers should abide by parking rules and regulations to avoid fines,” told the newspaper. — SG
