MUSCAT: Muscat Municipality reported the activation of additional parking spaces for vehicles subject to fees in a number of vital areas in the Governorate of Muscat, starting from March 6.

The municipality clarified that the added sites include the following: the parking spaces surrounding the Sultan Qaboos Mosque in Ruwi, the parking spaces adjacent to Sultan Qaboos Street in the southern Al Khuwair and opposite commercial buildings, the parking lots of the new Souq Al Khoudh, and the parking spaces located behind the “Ooredoo Hall.”

This regulatory action comes within the framework of the trends to reduce the phenomenon of random and permanent parking and is based on Administrative Decision No. 151/2016 regarding the issuance of a regulation regulating the use of public parking spaces in the Governorate of Muscat.

The procedure also aims to make the most appropriate use of situations. In view of the urban expansion and population density in the Governorate of Muscat, the increase in the number of vehicles, the promotion of regular parking operations, and the elimination of the phenomenon of permanent and neglected parking of vehicles which cause disruption of interests, traffic confusion and distortion of the public landscape.

The municipality stated that the timing of calculating parking fees daily is limited to two periods, from 8 am to 1 pm and from 4 pm to 9 pm, except for Fridays, Saturdays and official holidays that are announced by the concerned authorities.