By Vinod Nair — MUSCAT: May 10 - Three bus routes will be introduced in Salalah in 2018, perhaps earlier, as part of a plan to improve public transport in cities outside Muscat, said Ahmed al Balushi, CEO, Mwasalat. Speaking on the sidelines of the press conference held to unveil Oman’s transport strategy, he said: “With regards to Mwasalat taxis, we are about to award the tender for technology services and should be able to start the services by end of this year.” Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed al Futaisi, Minister of Transport and Communications, told the Observer that changing the taxi services in Oman is not easy because it is owned by Omanis. “We want to protect their rights and their main source of livelihood.”
“We have to reach an agreement with them to accept the new concept such as the management of operations through the companies. It will take time to convince them. We have succeeded in convincing taxi operators at hotels to go under Marhaba.” This model will gradually be implemented in other cities. Al Futaisi said the new regulations for street (orange and white) taxis will be implemented soon. These include monitoring the age of cars, quality of services, training and the age of drivers. “Meters will be installed in all street taxis and rates will be lower. After we finish in Muscat, it will be planned in other cities like Salalah,” he added.
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