RTA Launches mParking Service to Pay Parking Fees

RTA Launches mParking Service to Pay Parking Fees

Dubai (United Arab Emirates): The Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) launched mParking Service for paying parking fees in all RTA paid public parking zones in the emirate of Dubai through the mobile phone. The service is part of RTA strategy to provide integrated solutions of road systems that keep pace with the sweeping development plans in the emirate of Dubai, and in line with the highest international standards.

Engineer Maitha bin Adai, CEO of RTA Traffic & Roads Agency said: “The mParking service launched by the RTA in cooperation with Etisalat is the first of its kind in the UAE. It aims at easing the use of public parking for Dubai residents & visitors, thus saving their time & effort in paying fees of using controlled parking zones through the mobile phone (Etisalat). The system covers both GSM and Wasel lines by sending an SMS from the office, home or any other place; saving the inconvenience of searching for coins or renewing the validity of the parking ticket.

“The service will be applied through several phases starting with RTA parking zones at Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai Media City, and Dubai Internet City. Afterwards it will be gradually generalized to all RTA public parking in the emirate of Dubai; with Phase 2 covering Bur Dubai, and Phase 3 covering Deira.

“The system will maintain the coins system and the currently valid cards, so the new service is an added value to the list of services provided by RTA to customers in the context of diverse & multiple options offered to parking users. Under the new procedure, after parking the vehicle at the parking, the customer sends an SMS to 7275 (PARK) quoting the plate category & number, followed by the area code displayed in the signboard, and the required parking period. The customer will then receive an SMS confirming the completion of the process; which is considered an e-ticket showing the period permitted for using the parking.

“The mParking service provides several benefits to users; as no registration is required for benefiting from the service. However, customers who sign up through the website: www.mpark.rta.ae/ will find it much easier as they can link the details of their vehicle plates with short names of their choice; which can be used in paying the parking fees.

“Among the other benefits provided by the service is the possibility of paying the fees from any location without having to walk to the machine, and there will be no need to carry coins. The number of hours needed for using the parking could be set and the user will receive an SMS confirmation in a short time (e-ticket), and another reminder SMS 10 minutes before the expiry of the prescribed parking period so that the user can decide to extend the parking time or leave the parking to avoid any offences. Should the user opt to renew, it will be a very easy process just through sending an SMS including the letter “Y”, or (ن) in Arabic, as the system is bilingual (A/E) so that all customers can use it without any language barriers. The SMS has to include the number of the required extension hours. So if an SMS reply is received in the user’s mobile phone containing the details of an e-ticket extension, this means that the parking use period has been extended for the number of hours specified in the user’s extension SMS. Payment will be adjusted through direct debit from the balance of the mobile phone or telephone bill of the phone operator.

“Registration and benefiting from the service has been made so easy for users. Owners of private vehicles registered in the emirate of Dubai do not need prior registration to the service i.e. they can benefit from the service at any time. Owners of vehicles registered in other emirates will have to complete an easy registration process through www.mpark.rta.ae/.

“Information regarding parking will be automatically updated such that parking users issued with e-tickets will not be subjected to fines by parking controllers as their PDAs are linked to the main service provider through GPRS. So when the parking controller enters the details of the vehicle, all valid & expired permits in the zone will be displayed; thereby can verify if an e-ticket is issued or not” concluded Maitha.

In the same context, Ahmed Abdul Karim Julfar, Chief Operating Officer of Etisalat said: “Cooperation with the RTA in offering mParking service demonstrates that both parties are keen to cooperate in the public interest and serve all segments of the community through providing sophisticated technologies saving much time and effort. Provision of this service through Etisalat reflects the intention of the Co. to utilize the multiple features of mobile phones for the benefit of customers, and contribute to easing their daily life through offering innovative & comfortable services to pay various fees. This initiative is in line with Etisalat Strategy aiming at broadening its mobile phone-linked payment services to cover other sectors & services to meet the needs of our corporate and individual customers”.

Photos:
- Engineer Maitha bin Adai
- Ahmed Abdul Karim Julfar
- The system displaying the service in English

Dubai:RTA Publishes Dubai Parking & Pavements Use Handbook

RTA Publishes Dubai Parking & Pavements Use Handbook

Dubai – (RTA)
Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) recently published a handbook listing the services & facilities of using paid parking zones and road pavements by individuals & companies in the emirate of Dubai. The step aims to educate the public on how to benefit from of public parking and provide guidance about the best means of daily, seasonal and temporary usage of public parking.

The booklet contains detailed information covering the definition of relevant services & how to obtain them. It also narrates the stipulations & documentation required in respect of each type of service. The list of services includes utilization of private lands as rented parking lots, reserving car parks for authorized bodies, Emiratis parking permits, utilizing pavements and car parks for promotional campaigns, reserved parking, NOCs to install and remove parking machines, seasonal parking permits, and occupying pavements / external courts of restaurants & cafes. It also contains details of applicable fees, offences associated with the misuse of every service, and information about the recommended means of using public parking.

The CEO of RTA Traffic & Roads Agency Maitha bin Adai described the booklet as a new addition to the package of services rendered by the RTA to the public in general and parking users in particular. “The manual provides definitions of services rendered by Parking Dep’t and how to make use of such services. The handbook contains information about seasonal parking permits for individuals which comprises two categories: (A) for all controlled parking zones and (B) for specific parking zones. Such permits are valid for various periods, such as 3 months, 6 months or 1 year, and enable holders to park their vehicles for any period without having to get tickets issued from machines. It also includes definitions of a host of services such as pavement occupation of roads & external courts of restaurants & cafes, permits of utilizing private land plots as paid public parking zones, and certificates of removing or shifting paid parking machines or signboards issued to organizations undertaking construction projects, such as contractors. It also includes permits of reserving & using parking for authorized bodies such as hotels, hospitals, banks, mosque imams, construction sites, Emiratis residing at controlled parking zones, pavement utilization service and promotional campaigns launched by commercial outlets.

Maitha also stated that the booklet gives elaboration on the data of the said services in addition to information about the system, and offences related to the use of paid parking, road pavement and external courts in the emirate of Dubai.

RTA provided this booklet at all affiliated customer service centers, auto dealer outlets, petrol stations where parking cards are sold. It is also obtainable at the time of issuing seasonal parking permits. The whole exercise comes in the context of the drive to realize the vision of the RTA to provide safe and smooth transport for all.

Photos:
- The Manual
- Engineer Maitha bin Adai.