Sharjah: Abu Shagara, which used to be synonymous with used car dealers and parking problems, is breathing easy today.
Thousands of vehicles belonging to used car dealers that would normally occupy every available parking space have vanished from the residential area, freeing up parking spaces for residents and visitors. The dealers have finally relocated to a new purpose-built facility after occupying Abu Shagara since the 1980s.
Residents and visitors are relieved that their “parking nightmare” is over. They said Abu Shagara feels like a residential quarter again.
“I used to arrive in Abu Shagara after work at 11pm and spend an hour or more trying to find parking. So I would technically get home the next day,” said Habib Ur Rehman, a Pakistani expat.
“It was also a pain for my guests. I felt bad they would have to struggle for parking when they came to see me.
“But there are no issues now. Parking is easy near my home and I’m so happy it’s not an extra burden after returning from work.”
Another Pakistani resident, Javed Khan, added: “We also feel that the area is less noisy now. The stress of parking is not there and traffic has eased up. In the daytime, it’s a non-issue – you can find parking just about anywhere.”
Others said finding parking at night is still somewhat problematic but nowhere as bad as when the dealers and their cars were present. Frustrated motorists would double-park on the road or park on footpaths and other undesignated areas, inviting fines.
Another relief for residents is to drive by without being solicited by street touts of the dealers, who would stop cars on the road to negotiate deals.
K.A., who has been a resident since the 1990s, said “you can feel the breeze again. It was too congested with the used cars and salesmen stopping traffic to make their deals.”
All of the roughly 350 dealers had moved out by the last day of 2015, to the new Al Souq Al Haraj facility behind Tasjeel Village on Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road.
In Abu Shagara, the car showrooms are empty, with ‘to let’ signs popping up everywhere. The hustle and bustle on streets previously taken up by the showrooms has fallen silent. Some businesses, such as restaurants and salons, have started moving into the former car showrooms.
