New roads worth RO 1.5 billion under way

MUSCAT — As part of the government’s efforts to develop infrastructure and promote services related to the national economy, 11 agreements worth RO 158.37 million were signed at the Transport and Communications Ministry here yesterday. The agreements were signed on behalf of the government by Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed al Futaisi, Minister of Transport and Communications.

The projects include the construction of the Al Batinah Expressway (45.5 km) at a cost of RO 138, 929,383, the construction of a tarmac road from Qumaira to Hail Al Khanabsha in the Dhahirah Governorate (21 km long) at a cost of RO10, 005,677, the construction of Dhank-Al Khabib road in the Dhahirah Governorate (12 km long) at a cost of RO4, 532,074 and the rehabilitation of Wadi Qurayat road in the Dakhiliyah Governorate (21 km) at a cost of RO1.2 million.

Al Futaisi said in a statement that the government gives the road sector close attention due to its importance in sustainable development and its relevance to national growth and prosperity of other areas. The Ministry of Transport and Communications is currently implementing 65 road projects in various governorates of the Sultanate totalling 2,065 kilometres at a cost of RO 1.5 billion.

The minister stated that the government added many projects that were not within the current Five Year Plan to reinforce the road network to support development and to resettle citizens in their home areas. The cost of these additional projects amounted to RO 319 million. The ministry has allocated about 38 million and 405 thousand riyals and it has assigned the projects to a number of companies through the Tender Board, said the minister, noting that the recent projects issued by orders of Sultan Qaboos with 40 million rials were taken seriously by the Ministry and it is now taking action to put those projects in the public tenders for the design and implementation.

Among the vital projects is Al Batinah Expressway which is a development project included in the Eighth Five-Year plan (2011-2015), the Ministry has offered the first four packages with a total length of 181 kilometres for implementation through the Tender Board, while the second package will be assigned soon”, minister said.
Transport Under-Secretary Salim bin Mohammed al Nuaimi, said that the government of His Majesty the Sultan attaches importance to continuous expansion of the road network in the Sultanate, which reached a total of 12,402 by the end of 2011.
Meanwhile, Khalil bin Abdullah al Khonji, Chairman of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), said that, among the roads, Al Batinah Expressway extends 265 kilometres from Muscat Expressway to Khatmat Malaha in the Wilayat of Shinas. This road is considered the first one of its kind in the Sultanate in terms of technical specifications and will have four tracks on either side.
Another main dual carriageway is Bidbid-Sur road whose first phase (RO 125.23 million) from Bidbid to Ibra extends 116 kilometres out of the total of 240 kilometres, said the Governor of Northern Sharqiyah. The project links the governorates of Muscat, Al Sharqiyah, Al Dakhiliyah and Al Wusta, among other major projects which facilitate economic and tourism services.