AMMAN (Petra) - The Transport Ministry's plan for 2010 includes the implementation of several strategic land, air and maritime projects, according to a senior official.
In a recent interview with the Jordan News Agency, Petra, Transport Minister Alaa Batayneh said the government's letter of designation stressed the need to give priority to transport projects, particularly considering its role in economic development.
With regards to land transport services, Batayneh underlined the importance of having a single unified body undertake the responsibility of public transport in the Kingdom.
He said a main challenge facing the sector is the fact that 91 per cent of transportation outside Amman Governorate is managed by private individuals.
It is imperative to treat transportation as a service sector and not merely as a pure profit-generating commercial activity, the minister said, noting that most countries across the world and the region support public transport.
Highlighting the diversity of operators, Batayneh said the Public Transport Regulatory Commission (PTRC) has jurisdiction over transport services in different governorates, but not in Amman and the Aqaba Special Economic Zone.
Municipalities, meanwhile, have been in charge of bus terminals while the Tourism Ministry has shouldered the responsibility of tourism transport, he noted.
As part of its plans for this year, the government plans to expand the PTRC umbrella to cover various means of public land transport such as passenger and cargo movement, including trucks and railways, the minister noted.
Referring to the national railway network, he said the ministry attaches great importance to the initiative to maintain Jordan's strategic role as a regional transport hub.
In the last Arab summit, it was agreed that each Arab country will complete its own network in order to boost regional transportation.
Saudi Arabia is scheduled to complete its segment of the network by the end of 2011. This leaves 107 kilometres of track to connect Syria to Jordan, which will in turn link Gulf countries with Syria, Turkey and Europe, Batayneh explained.
Addressing air transport, he said the Queen Alia International Airport expansion project will be completed on time in February 2012.
Under the 25-year build-operate-transfer agreement, 54.6 per cent of total revenues will go to the government, estimated at JD35 million annually. Prior to the project, the government received JD15 million annually in airport revenues, he indicated.
The transport minister, who highlighted recent legislation to open up the sector to further private investment, also referred to a new maritime draft law currently being prepared, pointing out that the current maritime law dates back to the 1970s.
© Jordan Times 2010
