18 September 2015
Muscat: Roadways, currently under construction in Oman, will cost the government OMR 2.5 billion and the Ministry of Transport and Communications is doing its best to ensure that quality is maintained while building these networks.
The close attention that the government has paid to the quality of work has resulted in Oman's roads being ranked eighth globally and second in the Gulf for the 2014-2015 period, by the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI), released by the World Economic Forum (WEF).
Speaking to the Times of Oman (TOO), an official from the Ministry of Transport and Communications said, "As per the approved specifications for the road design manual, we have conducted necessary tests to ensure that construction is carried out as per the specifications. The Ministry is also working on increasing the competency and efficiency of the technical cadre working in the field of road construction."
"We are currently executing the implementation of quality management system in accordance with the standard specifications laid out by ISO," the official added.
Commenting on the high global ranking Oman has achieved, the official said, "Achievements in the road sector reflect the attention and care accorded by the government to the development of roads in Oman. The development of roads has contributed towards shortening travel distances and also facilitated movement of passengers and goods across Oman and neighbouring countries."
The Ministry's personnel, who are in-charge of the road projects, have paid a lot of attention to all the stages and steps to be followed while building a road network.
They have monitored each step from the stage of planning, construction, maintenance, rehabilitation to following standard specifications, pointed out the official.
The main roadways, currently under construction, include; Dualisation of the Bidbid /Sur Project ( stage 1 and 2), the Sinaw-Mahut-Duqm Road ( part 1 and 2), the dualisation of Taqa/Mirbat Road, Al Batinah Expressway (packages 1-6), the dualisation of Adam-Thumrait Road Project (part 1 & 2), the dualisation of Jibrin-Ibri (phase 2), the dualisation of the Barka/Nakhal Road, the dualisation of Ibri-Al Dariz-Maskan (part 1 Hijairat-Maskan) and the dualisation of Ibri/ Yanqul Road (phase 2).
Road projects will be built as per the approved five-year plan, said the official adding, "This opens new horizons for economic and construction development in the Sultanate."
The quality of Oman's roads has been ranked second in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), followed by Bahrain's road network being ranked 22nd, Saudi Arabia 26th, Qatar 34th and Kuwait ranked 48th.
When the Times of Oman asked whether the Ministry plans to install countdown timers at traffic signals, the official said, "We have coordinated with the ROP on the issue and the Ministry has proposed the installation of the same on a trial basis at one of the traffic signals in the Muscat Governorate to evaluate its feasibility."
Muscat: Roadways, currently under construction in Oman, will cost the government OMR 2.5 billion and the Ministry of Transport and Communications is doing its best to ensure that quality is maintained while building these networks.
The close attention that the government has paid to the quality of work has resulted in Oman's roads being ranked eighth globally and second in the Gulf for the 2014-2015 period, by the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI), released by the World Economic Forum (WEF).
Speaking to the Times of Oman (TOO), an official from the Ministry of Transport and Communications said, "As per the approved specifications for the road design manual, we have conducted necessary tests to ensure that construction is carried out as per the specifications. The Ministry is also working on increasing the competency and efficiency of the technical cadre working in the field of road construction."
"We are currently executing the implementation of quality management system in accordance with the standard specifications laid out by ISO," the official added.
Commenting on the high global ranking Oman has achieved, the official said, "Achievements in the road sector reflect the attention and care accorded by the government to the development of roads in Oman. The development of roads has contributed towards shortening travel distances and also facilitated movement of passengers and goods across Oman and neighbouring countries."
The Ministry's personnel, who are in-charge of the road projects, have paid a lot of attention to all the stages and steps to be followed while building a road network.
They have monitored each step from the stage of planning, construction, maintenance, rehabilitation to following standard specifications, pointed out the official.
The main roadways, currently under construction, include; Dualisation of the Bidbid /Sur Project ( stage 1 and 2), the Sinaw-Mahut-Duqm Road ( part 1 and 2), the dualisation of Taqa/Mirbat Road, Al Batinah Expressway (packages 1-6), the dualisation of Adam-Thumrait Road Project (part 1 & 2), the dualisation of Jibrin-Ibri (phase 2), the dualisation of the Barka/Nakhal Road, the dualisation of Ibri-Al Dariz-Maskan (part 1 Hijairat-Maskan) and the dualisation of Ibri/ Yanqul Road (phase 2).
Road projects will be built as per the approved five-year plan, said the official adding, "This opens new horizons for economic and construction development in the Sultanate."
The quality of Oman's roads has been ranked second in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), followed by Bahrain's road network being ranked 22nd, Saudi Arabia 26th, Qatar 34th and Kuwait ranked 48th.
When the Times of Oman asked whether the Ministry plans to install countdown timers at traffic signals, the official said, "We have coordinated with the ROP on the issue and the Ministry has proposed the installation of the same on a trial basis at one of the traffic signals in the Muscat Governorate to evaluate its feasibility."
© Times of Oman 2015
