More than 3,000 cars illegally exhibited for sale on pavements across Bahrain will be towed away as part of a nationwide campaign, said a top government official.

The campaign started in the Central Governorate's Riffa and Isa Town areas yesterday by Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Ministry and other areas will soon follow.

The ministry hired a private company to tow the cars to its garage in Tubli, where owners can collect them and pay the fine, said ministry undersecretary Dr Nabeel Abu Al Fateh.

Authorities hope to remove 80 per cent of the violators, who park on pavements, streets and neighbourhoods by fining them an undisclosed amount.

"The warning time is over. We have repeatedly told owners to remove their cars and had also put stickers informing them about the violation, but they never complied," he said.

"We removed many cars from the streets two years ago when we launched a crackdown and violations had stopped, but they have resurfaced once again and this is why action was necessary."

Dr Abu Al Fateh said that 85 per cent of the exhibited cars belonged to authorised dealers, who were looking for more advertisement, and 15 per cent were locals looking to sell used cars.

"We think that the new campaign will end 80 per cent of violations of the 3,000 illegally exhibited cars," he said.

"The ministry feels sorry for cars exhibitors who are committed to their showrooms and backyards and are paying us municipal fees, while others break rules and regulations." – TradeArabia News Service