Visitors to Doha International Airport’s (DIA) arrivals terminal are facing parking problems as a major portion of the parking facility has been closed due to an ongoing construction project to install a double-deck metallic parking area, the first of its kind in Qatar.
The average waiting time to find parking varies from 10-15 minutes, but during peak hours, it may go up to half-an-hour or even more. The problem may continue until October-end, which is the tentative completion date of the parking enhancement project.
The terminal has a maximum parking capacity for about 650 vehicles, but the closure of a major portion for the erection of the make-shift parking project has resulted in an acute shortage of space.
“I came to receive my father in-law, but could not reach in time as I had to wait for 35 minutes in long queues to find a parking space. I felt bad as my guest had to wait for me instead of me waiting for him,” said a Pakistani national.
In addition to the parking problem, long walking distance in scorching heat is another concern. As the current parking bay, which is now open for use but will subsequently be demolished, is located a little away from the waiting lounge, the visitors as well as passengers are required to take a long walk (over 500 metres) with their luggage.
“Yesterday, I missed my flight, so I was asked to collect my luggage from the ‘lost and found’ counter at the arrivals terminal. Due to lack of parking space in the nearby, I had to park my car far away at a distance of over 700 metres that too at a wrong place … It is torturing to walk even 200 metres in such a harsh weather condition,” said a young Indian, with his shirt half wet in sweat.
Earlier, DIA had urged people visiting the terminal to use taxis during the Eid Al Fitr holidays in view of the expected rush and inadequate car parking space.
According to reports, the temporary closure of the parking facility was an inevitable step, as the DIA was asked to relinquish a significant portion (area that can accommodates nearly 250 vehicles) of its existing parking facilities by the Qatar Railways Company (Qatar Rail) to make way for the upcoming Doha Metro project.
Faced with space constraints, the management of DIA decided to hire the services of an Italian company that specialises in providing innovative and speedy car parking solutions in countries witnessing rapidly changing demographics and urbanisation.
The two-storey parking project is expected to ease parking problems. It will double the parking capacity by optimising space utilisation. This will also enable DIA to handover a significant portion of its parking area to Qatar Rail without facing much problem.
The construction work started in mid-July, and expected to be completed by October-end. However, until the new facility is ready for use, the problem is expected to continue as there seems to be no viable alternative.
“The facility is being erected by Fast Park, a leading provider of innovative and patented parking solution. And we are working in different shifts to complete the project within the given time-frame”, said a source associated with the company.
Source:The Peninsula
