MUSCAT: University and college students are grappling with a pressing issue - the scarcity of parking spaces on their campuses. This problem has been aggravated due to the surge in student enrollments and the subsequent increase in vehicles, causing significant delays in attending lectures and a surge in traffic violations.
Frustrated by the persistent parking challenges, students call upon the university administrations to liaise with the relevant traffic regulatory authorities to mitigate the escalating congestion. Their collective appeal includes a plea to establish ample parking spots adjacent to educational institutions, accounting for the rising number of students. Additionally, they emphasise the importance of close collaboration with traffic management authorities to tackle the growing problem of unauthorised parking.
Ahmed al Mahruqi, a student at Sultan Qaboos University, says that the traffic crisis at the university has been unresolved for years, especially with the frequent lack of parking spaces near the colleges and lecture venues. He emphasised that the university's proposed solutions to the congestion problem are temporary, mainly due to the need for a clear plan to mitigate this problem, especially considering that the number of students increases every semester.
Mahruqi added that it is difficult to find a parking spot, especially near buildings E and F. Most of the time, we have to park far away, and the nearest parking spot is a 15-minute walk. He also mentioned the traffic congestion when leaving campus at 4 o'clock, where we face significant waiting times to exit the university.
Mohammed Hussein, a University of Technology and Applied Sciences student, stated that students' vehicles exceed the currently available parking spaces. Many students are forced to park in areas that violate traffic laws, leading them to receive traffic violations weekly or daily. He added that some students now allocate half of their allowances to pay for these traffic violations due to improper parking, highlighting the urgent need to solve this problem quickly.
Mohammed added that students are willing to fully cooperate with the university administration in implementing any solution that would help resolve or mitigate the negative impact of this issue. He emphasised the importance of addressing this issue from all angles and ensuring the rapid implementation of comprehensive solutions. Mohammed also urged the university authorities to find quick solutions to this problem by proposing short-term solutions until plans are developed to accommodate the increasing number of vehicles.
Among the solutions proposed by the students to solve this crisis that concerns them is the creation of many parking spaces near the colleges. Additionally, increasing the number of designated parking spaces near colleges and educational facilities to meet the needs of students is essential.
Moreover, coordinating with the traffic department regarding traffic violations and establishing mechanisms to coordinate with the traffic department to reduce traffic violations related to parking in unauthorised areas are also recommended.
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