By Ramesh Mathew/Staff Reporter
A multi-level car parking facility has provided some relief to people who visit areas surrounding Doha Exhibition Centre (DEC) and Katara – the Cultural Village.
Many of these visitors had earlier complained of a shortage of parking space there due to ongoing construction works.
During the recently held Milipol Qatar exhibition at DEC, many visitors availed of the nearly 500 parking slots in the five-floor facility near the Katara signal.
“With a large number of visitors - including those who came to see Milipol Qatar - leaving their vehicles there, the parking facility has received a lot of attention,” said a city businessman who was among those who used the facility.
The facility also houses a few offices of the Cultural Village. A Katara employee who has his office on the ground floor of the complex said few people were aware of the facility’s existence before Milipol Qatar 2014. Even during the Eid celebrations, not many visitors to the area made use of the car parking space available there though big crowds thronged Katara in the evenings, said sources.
On the first day of the exhibition, too, many visitors parked their vehicles a little far from the DEC before walking down to the DEC. However, by noon, most parking slots had been occupied, it is learnt.
Meanwhile, some visitors suggested the introduction of shuttle services to Katara or the exhibition centre from the new parking facility when events are held at the two locations.
