Free no more: Parking at national stadium in Sofia to become paid
The largest free parking lot in the centre of Bulgarian capital Sofia – located between the Vassil Levski national stadium and the nearby metro station – is set to become part of the city’s “green zone” paid parking area starting September 1.
In preparation of the move, city hall authorities have restricted parking there as of August 20, with any cars that owners failed to move set to be towed away.
Municipal company Pazari Zapad, which would manage the lot, plans to carry out surface repairs, followed by the marking of 100 parking spots, with plans calling for some spots to be reserved for disabled parking. It will also install a barrier gate and a parking fee payment machine, Bulgarian National Television (BNT) reported.
Motorists using the parking lot should expect to pay one lev an hour for the first four hours of parking, rising to two leva an hour for each hour after that.
“The reason why the municipal council made this decision was to reduce the number of parking spots and make it more orderly, giving people easier access to the [Borissova Gradina] park,” BNT quoted Nikolai Stoinev, deputy chairperson of Sofia municipal council, as saying.
The parking lot is also the location, on weekends, for a used sports goods market – mainly skiing and biking apparel and equipment – which is set to continue after the lot becomes paid parking, although sellers will have to stump up a 12 leva daily fee if they want to display their wares.
A second, smaller parking lot on the other side of the stadium, near the Ariana pond, is set to remain free for the time being, BNT said.
(Photo: Clive Leviev-Sawyer)
