With the aim to encourage drivers to use the public transport system and depend less on cars; paid parking is being introduced in Abu Dhabi for the first time, which will commence from the beginning of October.

Parking fees will be applicable in nearly 2,500 parking spaces in Hamdan Street and Zayed the First Street, in the first stage, with prices fixed at Dh2 or Dh3 per hour, depending on location.

The Department of Transport (DoT) has said that by the year 2014, Abu Dhabi's light-rail tram (LRT) system will be operational.

On Tuesday, the local and international consulting firms were invited by the DoT officials, for presenting a proposal to carry out a detailed planning of the tram system.

The DoT said in a statement: "The 340km tram system is part of an ambitious and far-reaching Surface Transport Master Plan that will meet the people and economy's mobility needs as part of Plan Abu Dhabi 2030."