With the issue of traffic congestion not showing any signs of improvement, the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has announced its decision to hike up parking charges in order to address the matter.
This comes as numerous cars were found to have been parked way long than they should in high-demand areas on the island, reported FMT.
Parking charges soar by 50% in Penang
Speaking to the press regarding the new parking charges, mayor A Rajendran said the price hike was needed to deter drivers from parking their cars for extended hours, which leads to traffic congestion and limits availabilty.
“Some drivers park their vehicles for 10 to 12 hours straight, making it difficult for others to find parking. This forces motorists to circle around in search of parking, further contributing to congestion,” he explained.
With the revised rates, roadside parking fees have risen from 40 sen to 60 sen per half-hour, while hourly rates increased from 80 sen to RM1.20. As for the daily parking fee, it jumped from RM6 to RM9.
However, the only unaffected parking charge was the monthly pass, where it remained at RM150.
Aside from the price hike, MBPP will also be implementing stricter measures at five areas identified as traffic hotspots, namely Jalan P Ramlee, Jalan Dato Keramat, Jalan Magazine, Jalan Burma, and the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway.
As such, waiting by the roadside will be barred, and enforcement against illegal parking will be carried out more stringently.
Furthermore, MBPP is looking into setting time limits on parking in high-demand areas such as Lebuh Chulia and Lebuh Pasar (Little India) to improve the turnover of parking spots, reported NST.
In the whole of Malaysia, Penang has one of the highest car ownership rates in Malaysia, which unsurprisingly has exacerbated its existing traffic woes, which has been a huge headache for residents.
What do you think of the new parking rates? Let us know in the comments!
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