Sharjah: Residents are furious that car dealers continue to block the roads with their cars in Abu Shagara, despite the order given last week by Sharjah Municipality to have them removed.
The municipality ordered used car dealers to evacuate their cars that were blocking the arterial roads connecting with King Abdul Aziz Street, as reported by Gulf News on February 20.
Several cars were towed away as part of the drive aimed at clearing congestion caused by illegal parking on both sides of the dual carriageway, in order to provide access to ambulances and fire-engines during emergencies.
Jagdish Ram, a resident in one of the buildings behind the Honda showroom in Abu Shagara, said that when he arrives back from work in the evenings the roads continue to be cramped with parked cars.
Fire dangers
"During the day the cars are parked in different places to avoid being confiscated by authorities. But by evening they occupy every available space. God forbid if a fire happens in the building, because it will be impossible for the fire-engines to arrive on time," said Ram, who parks his car a kilometre and a half away from his residence.
"I have seen the cars for sale occupying half of the parking spaces allocated for the Abu Shagara park during the day.
"When I arrive home after 7pm, it is impossible to find free parking spaces because the showroom owners have already parked their cars.
"When I told the dealers to remove them, they shouted insults and verbally abused me, telling me to go away," he lamented.
Women are scared to walk alone at night in Abu Shagara because they are continuously harassed by motorists who come to sell their cars.
Ram's wife had to walk for 15 minutes because she could not find a parking space near the home, and was harassed by men.
"While my wife was walking back home, men stopped their cars and asked what were her charges. We were unable to file a complaint with the police because the cars do not have a plate number," he said, noting that this sort of incident has happened to several other women in the area and has left them feeling intimidated to walk alone at night.
Your comments
Cramped up routes and bumper to bumper cars have made it difficult to walk and live in the Abu Shagara area. Used car dealers have occupied the streets making it highly difficult for a local resident to find parking space. These people are not afraid of authority and continue to transform and destroy a residential area into a garage. I am highly concerned about the future of Abu Shagara which by the looks of it is a mess.
Lalain
Sharjah,UAE
I am living in Abu Shagara for the past six years. The blocking of roads by these used car dealers is shameful. The local authorities are unable to control this issue.
Sadeeshan
Dubai,UAE
The dealers park their cars in the parking spaces and double park on the streets. I wish the police would remove all of them. There is a lot of noise from cars honking that is especially annoying during prayer times.
Maryam
Sharjah,UAE
