'A city of barriers'

Taxi drivers in Kut decry blocking of streets by businesses as authorities shift blame

KUT — Taxi drivers and motorists in Kut, Wasit Governorate, have expressed frustration over the increasing trend of shops and garages blocking streets, preventing vehicles from stopping.

Drivers are calling on local authorities to address the issue, which has led to frequent disputes between them and the shop owners.

Hussein Fakhri, a taxi driver, told 964media, “Kut has turned recently into a city of barriers. Shops are openly placing cones to block parking in front of their premises, and garage owners are occupying entire sidewalks. We don’t know what the legal standing of such actions is.”

Shop owners in Kut reportedly prevent vehicles from parking in front of their premises to maintain clear access for their businesses, ensure visibility of their storefronts, and in some cases, to reserve space for their own use.

Fakhri added that taxi drivers, in particular, depend on parking spaces for short stops, emphasizing the need for intervention by municipal and traffic authorities.

He noted that some shop owners have resorted to using tree trunks or wooden planks to enforce no-parking zones, which also “detracts from the city’s appearance.”

The situation has sparked daily disputes between drivers and business owners, with taxis unable to find even temporary parking in central areas of the city, according to Fakhri.

In response to inquiries from 964media, the Kut municipality and Wasit Traffic Directorate shifted responsibility to one another, claiming “the issue falls outside their jurisdiction.”

However, Habib Al-Badri, head of the Wasit provincial council’s security committee, announced plans for a coordinated municipal and security campaign to address the problem. Al-Badri said the campaign would warn businesses and garage operators against obstructing parking spaces in front of their premises.

I trust the local police in my area

I trust the local police in my area

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