Dubai: Motorists in Dubai will be able to pay parking fees via their mobile phones, Gulf News has learnt.
The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) will introduce the new service called 'mPark' next month.
Then motorists will be able to pay the fees in paid parking zones by simply sending an SMS.
The service was initially scheduled to be launched in September last year but it was delayed due to technical reasons.
"We hope to launch the service in the first week of May," said an official at the RTA. The official launch and more details about the service will be announced soon.
He said the aim of the mPark service is to provide more options to motorists.
Currently, parking fees can be paid with coins and parking cards.
The best thing about the mPark system is that a person can extend the parking time from any location if he is unable to get to his vehicle before his paid parking time expires.
The system is easy to use. A user must check the parking zone code registered in the payment machine in the paid parking zone. Then send an SMS to the number 7275 (corresponding to the word PARK) including vehicle number plate, parking zone code, and the required parking period. The money is deducted from the mobile phone balance.
The control room will send an SMS confirming the payment and automatically transmit the number plate of the vehicle to the parking warden stating that the parking fee chargeable to a particular vehicle has been paid. A reminder SMS will be sent to the user 10 minutes before the expiry of the paid period.
The mPark system will be implemented in phases. It will start on Shaikh Zayed Road, Dubai Media City and Internet City on May 3 followed by Bur Dubai in August and in Deira by October. Dubai currently has more than 75,000 paid parking areas.
Options: Two types of cards
There are various options to pay for parking in paid parking zones. In addition to using coins, a motorist can also use various types of pre-paid cards and seasonal cards.
One type of parking card is for a shorter periods and is available in denominations of Dh30, Dh50 and Dh100. They can be used at parking meters, instead of coins, to get parking tickets. A card worth Dh100 is available for Dh85.
Dh50 cards are sold for Dh43 and a Dh30 card can be obtained for Dh26. Seasonal cards are available for three, six and 12 months ranging from Dh450 to Dh2,500. These cards are fixed to the windscreen. They can be used to park cars round-the-clock without getting tickets from parking meters.
Cards of Category A can be used to park cars anywhere in Dubai and costs Dh700 for three months, Dh1,300 for six months and Dh2,500 for one year.
Cards of category B can be used only in large parking lots and cost Dh450, Dh800 and Dh1,500 respectively.
Do you have trouble paying for parking? Will this initiative make payments easier?
Your comments
It is a good initiative ,but if the SMS is charged,we end up paying more everytime?
Cranchi
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 28, 2009, 16:53
Great attempt to make motorists happy!!!
Question: As everybody is questioning, Is SMS chargeable for this service, if so, how much? for sending and receiving? Thanks for reverting.
P. Baskaran
050 574 9239
P. Baskaran
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 28, 2009, 16:50
Yes, it's a great initiative which RTA has taken in making the life easier for the motorist. Thanks to RTA and the people behind it.
Sajid
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 28, 2009, 16:17
it is a very good initiative and will save a lot of time
Jaysheel
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 28, 2009, 16:02
Great initiative that we have a simple procedure now. Great to hear that we have 75,000 such areas, do we have any initiative in pipeline to increase the parking areas?
Mamatha Pradhan
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: April 28, 2009, 15:47
This is indeed an great initiative by RTA, from this people will have stress free parking time and no hassle on extension.
Kalpathy Hemant Narayanan
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 28, 2009, 14:31
Well i think the most convenient way is mPark, its easy to use and it will reduce parking fine.
Mohammad Minhaz
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 28, 2009, 14:29
Excellent system. Just hope the overall fare remains the same. How does the inspector knows if the paking fee is paid or not ?
Vimal
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 28, 2009, 14:17
I would like to thank the RTA for stressing on making our life easier day by day and implementing the lastest technology systems to provide us with the best reliable services.
From A Reader
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 28, 2009, 14:13
Fantastic, good job RTA, keep it up.
Mohammad Burhan Mirza
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 28, 2009, 14:03
I'm a little concerned at all the comments asking how the parking inspector will know about the payments considering step 5 of the illustration clearly says they will see the payment as having been made on their PDAs. Its also a little disappointing that it will take until October to cover all of Dubai, but none the less it's a practical and welcome idea.
Mark
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 28, 2009, 13:57
I second the motion on the comments that some coins are unacceptable in machine "on the first three tries and on the fourth works yet some really not. So when i returned back to the parking, i found penalty ticket for overstaying for 5 minutes. Goodness gracious!
Flora Maravilla
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: April 28, 2009, 13:54
Execellent. Technology being used cleverly.
Moideen Vibin
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 28, 2009, 13:52
will there be a charge to send SMS to 7275?
irfan Manga
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 28, 2009, 13:46
I feel it makes it very easy and comfortable for all.
Arafath
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 28, 2009, 13:32
i think this is the best way to pay the parking fees. This will reduce fine also for motorist.
Irshad Ahmad
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 28, 2009, 13:05
Good initiative. Is this limited to Dubai only or include Sharjah and other emirates later?
Hameedullah
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: April 28, 2009, 12:48
Technology showing power and its a great move by the RTA to do so.
No doubt its very helfpul, at the same time its time saving and no hassle for looking coins in pockets!
Abdul Majid
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: April 28, 2009, 12:32
This system will reduce the time wastage and tension for paying more after the given time.
Ishtihar Hussain
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 28, 2009, 11:08
It will ease our life.
Viki
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 28, 2009, 11:07
Very good idea. It is very useful and convenient for all.
Abdul Bashir C. V.
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 28, 2009, 10:48
Brilliant idea. Saves stress.
Irfan
Riyadh,KSA
Posted: April 28, 2009, 10:35
It seems to be a good move, but need to wait n see how effective it's going to be as far as accuracy is concerned. I have personal experience of tickets not coming out after I put in coins. Parking cards being rejected saying "Card pulled out early" after deducting the due amount etc. So initially I am not going to try it out as I don't wish to see a slip on my car as to non payment of parking fee although it got deducted from my phone.
Deepak
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 28, 2009, 10:13
This system will be beneficial for all motorists. It is so inconvenient to go back to the parking just to extend your parking tickets and worst to that is if you don't have the right change. I just hope that we will not be paying more than what we do with the machine.
From A Reader
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 28, 2009, 10:08
Yes, Of course it is a very sociable step towards the public from the RTA; but how parking inspector can make out paid and unpaid vehicle?
Asif
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 28, 2009, 09:52
Please let me know if sending the SMS will be charged extra.
Mohammad Thaqi Al Deen
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 28, 2009, 09:50
Great appreciation for the conveniant and innovative idea from RTA.
Sajil paul
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 28, 2009, 09:37
That's a great move on the side of RTA. previously it was tough as all know to come down from the building or wherever you go and spend more than a hour to come back and replace the card. kudos for them for thinking big.
R. B. Padikkal
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 28, 2009, 09:17
RTA should be considered the best Authority for its creative ideas and many intiatives that will help customers and make their life and business easier.
Yousuf
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 28, 2009, 09:13
The system is quite convenient but I have a doubt about the best thing of "Mpark". How will the parking inspector know that the time has been extended for this particular vehicle?
Soheb Ismail Shaikh
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 28, 2009, 09:10
Yet another wonder going to make happy for dubai motorists by RTA.
James
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 28, 2009, 09:08
Certainly I have trouble renewing parking tickets as usually some coins don't work with some machines. Practically its not possible to go and renew the parking ticket every hour, some may forget and like me, end up being fined for it even if the ticket expired 3-5 minutes before. I think the sms system will be more convenient for everyone. This is a fantastic idea!
Tehmina Khan
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 28, 2009, 08:58
This is a good initiative by the RTA. People who genuinely cannot renew the parking ticket can benefit from this move.
Sunil Venkateswaran
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 28, 2009, 08:57
I think paying for parking by SMS will make it easier. This facilty has been avaiblabe in Muscat Since 4-5 years.
Rajesh
Muscat,Oman
Posted: April 28, 2009, 08:49
I tried all the existing methods, they are risky and inconvinient. From its description, i think the mPark is the most risk free, efficient and effective method. I'm looking forward to shifting to it.
Dan-agege
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 28, 2009, 01:40
