The Muscat skyline is undergoing a rapid change as older buildings make way for new ones to keep pace with the times. More than 25 such buildings in Ruwi are in the process of being demolished as part of the city's redevelopments plans.
Suresh Babu, manager, Ruwaishad, a construction company which has a contract to demolish 24 buildings in the Rex road area of Ruwi, said, "As most of the apartment blocks came up post-1970, the building demolition business is new in Oman. However, business has seen a growth of over 50 per cent during the past five years.
"Currently, we are in the process of demolishing 24 four- and six-storey buildings belonging to different ministries in the Ruwi area. We started in November 2012 and it will take us a total of three months to finish the job. We also have contracts to demolish buildings in Ghala, Ghubra and Al Khuwayr."
When asked about the procedures to demolish a building, he said that once permission is granted by Muscat Municipality's department of building permits, the company workers strip the building of copper wires, windows, doors and other fittings. "The demolition job comes next. We are licenced to use explosives but rarely do as they are costly and it is difficult to obtain the special permission required to use them."
Mohammed Imran, a site engineer, said, "It takes us only four to five days to demolish smaller buildings, but the larger ones are more challenging. We've already demolished nine buildings so far. We've noticed that there aren't as many steel rods as in modern structures. I think building regulations were not as strict when they were built, but it makes our job easier."
An official from Muscat Municipality said, "The old buildings are being demolished to make way for the city's development and additional parking spaces."
Another demolition is underway on Bait al Falaj Street in Ruwi. "This private building dates back to the late 70s. It consists of a ground floor plus three floors. We decided to demolish it to make way for a new building. It will take one month to finish the job," said the building owner's representative, who wished to remain anonymous.
© Muscat Daily 2013
