Bahrain is introducing solar-powered smart parking meters across the country to address the challenges motorists face with coin-operated machines. This initiative, led by the Works Ministry, involves phasing out the old meters for environmentally-friendly versions that support digital payments.
The transition comes in response to frequent complaints from drivers about the scarcity of small change needed for the traditional parking meters, which has occasionally led to parking fines. The new smart meters, already installed in parts of Manama and Riffa, cover 15 parking spaces each and operate from 7 am to 7 pm, charging 100 fils for 30 minutes with a two-hour maximum stay.
Motorists can now avoid the BD50 fines for parking violations by making quick digital payments via smartphones or contactless cards. Payments made within seven days of the offence are eligible for a 50% reduction in fines.
Dr. Mariam Al Dhaen, Vice-Chairwoman of the Parliament’s Foreign Affairs, Defence, and National Security Committee, praised the move towards modern technology, noting that it aligns with global urban developments towards cashless and ticketless parking systems.
The smart meters are designed to support various digital payment methods and apps and feature number plate recognition technology to monitor parking sessions efficiently. This modern approach not only simplifies the parking process but also provides significant environmental benefits by reducing waste from paper tickets and coin collections.
Saleh Tarradah, Chairman of the Capital Trustees Board, highlighted several advantages of the new system, including improved efficiency in revenue tracking and the potential for dynamic pricing to manage parking demand. He noted that the meters contribute to sustainability efforts by minimizing urban carbon footprints and enhancing the management of urban mobility.
As Bahrain continues to embrace smart parking technologies, the future of urban parking in the nation is set to be increasingly efficient, sustainable, and user-friendly.
