Bratislava, July 1 - It is now possible to pay charges for parking in the centre of Bratislava via mobile-phone text messages, after a new system was introduced on Tuesday, July 1.

Project Mobil Parking allows parking in places that have until now been reserved for payment via swipe cards. The new system provides an alternative to the cards, which will remain valid. Both systems charge Sk10 (€0.33) per hour on weekdays between 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Mobil Parking is designed to improve the quality of services to match those used in more advanced European cities, to increase the effectiveness of carpark usage, to improve payment checks, to develop an integrated parking system, and to create conditions for more intense cross-border co-operation and tourism development.

"The advantage of this system is that our drivers can use it in Vienna too, and vice-versa. This service is also being considered for other cities in Slovakia, and it is up to the local authorities whether or not they are interested," said Bratislava Old Town deputy mayor Peter Tatar at a press conference on Tuesday.

The project cost almost Sk52 million (€1.72 million) to set up, and was financed partly by the EU, with the borough contributing Sk2.5 million (€82,700).

Registration for the Mobil Parking service at www.m-parking.sk is free of charge. Drivers will pay parking charges using their credit. When people park their cars, they will send a text message stating how long they intend to park. Parking is booked only after the text message is received. The appropriate sum will then be deducted from the drivers' credit. If a driver needs to park for a longer time, he or she won't have to return to the car, but will be able to arrange an extension on the spot. Credit can be obtained from MPay Slovakia, the system operator. Businessmen and companies can order monthly parking reports.

"If you register now, you'll get eight hours of parking for free," said MPay Slovakia representative Emil Fitos. The company owns a licence to manage parking payments in the Old Town, and also owns software and technological licences for this system.

(TASR; illustration photo)