Over 5,200 abandoned vehicles have been removed by the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) in collaboration with other concerned authorities since the beginning of this year.

The MME has opened a new site for abandoned vehicles in Al Mazroua area which can accommodate about 25,000 abandoned vehicles.

“The campaign to remove abandoned vehicles began in the end of June this year and started from Doha and Al Shahaniyah. The total number of the vehicles which have been removed from June is 1,200,” said Marzouq Al Mesaifir, Assistant Director of the Mechanical Equipment Department.

Speaking to reporters during the campaign launched by the Committee for Removing Abandoned Vehicles in collaboration with Al Daayen Municipality yesterday, Al Mesaifir added:  “We will intensify inspection drives to fight this phenomenon and will also raise awareness among vehicle owners on the issue.”

“Till now, around 200 abandoned vehicles have been noticed in Al Daayen Municipality and we have already removed 20 vehicles. The move aims at ensuring health and hygiene at public places and keep the cities clean and beautiful,” he noted.

The drive was attended by Mohammed Faraj Al Kubaisi, Assistant Director of the General Cleaning Project and member of the Committee for Removal of Abandoned Vehicles; Abdullah Al Nuaimi, Director of Municipal Control Department; Ali Al Humaidi, Head of Public Control Section at Al Daayen Municipality, and a number of representatives of the authorities concerned in the Ministry of Interior.

“The joint committee for Removing Abandoned Vehicles since it was established in 2013 has removed and impounded 61,514 vehicles. Out of total impounded vehicles, 43,202 vehicles were shifted to Al Mashaf Yard and 18,312 to Mesaimeer (Abu Hamour) Yard,” said Al Kubaisi.

On areas the campaign is supposed to cover, Ali Al Humaidi, Head of Public Control Section at Al Daayen Municipality, said that the municipality is carrying out a comprehensive campaign to remove all abandoned vehicles, where the municipality inspectors put a notification sticker and give three days to remove the vehicle and in case of non-removal, the committee will remove and the owner of the vehicle will have to pay a fine of QR1000.

The owners of impounded vehicles are also being charged QR500 as towing charge for light vehicles, and QR800 for heavy vehicles and QR2,000 for heavy machinery and equipment. He also said that these inspection campaigns contributed well to the public’s commitment and awareness to remove their cars.

The campaign comes within the framework of the continuous efforts of the Ministry of Municipality and Environment to curb the phenomenon of abandoned vehicles on road sides, which distort the general appearance, and violate Law No.18 of 2017 on Public Hygiene.