Bus service launched in Salalah

Kaushalendra Singh - SALALAH, Dec 28 - Mwasalat, Oman’s National Transport Company, on Friday launched the much-awaited public bus services in the wilayats of Salalah and Sohar amid cheer from local commuters and tourists. The city bus routes have already been identified and bus stops have been marked at designated places. Mwasalat is offering free ride on all routes till January 3. The starting point for the service in Salalah is Salalah Airport and end point is Port of Salalah. In between there are 17 stops where the passengers can board the bus and get down, accordingly. Thus a bus starting from Salalah Airport would come back again to the airport after covering educational institutions in Saada, utility places of vehicle registration and resident card facilitation centres, central Salalah and the port. So far a total of 19 stops have been identified from Salalah Airport in the east of Itin up to Port of Salalah, which is located in Raysut. A total of six buses have been pressed into service initially to maintain 30-minute frequency from 6 am to 11.30 pm on week days, while 7 am to 11.30 pm on weekends and public holidays. The stops identified so far are Salalah Airport, Dhofar University, Saada Sports Complex, Dhofar Police Station, Salalah College of Technology, Sultan Qaboos Armed Forces Hospital, Sultan Qaboos Youth Complex, Al Hasila roundabout, 23rd July Street, Sultan Qaboos Mosque, Al Nahda Street, Salalah Park, Al Robat Street, Awqad roundabout, Salalah Club, Al Qurum roundabout, Sultan Qaboos Street and Port of Salalah. Alden who works in an engineering company hailed the bus service as an excellent move by the government keeping in mind the city is getting expanded day by day and it is gaining importance as an important tourist spot in the region. “I am really happy to board the bus on the very first day of its launch. I congratulate the government and commuters for the service, which really would add value to Salalah,” he said. Employees working in Port of Salalah were seen greeting the bus with big smile. Most of them were telling with joy that this is the best thing happened for them, as it has made very convenient for them to come on duty and go back home after finishing their jobs. The drivers were seen educating the passengers as how to push stop button some minutes before their desired bus stop and how to use free Wi-Fi in the bus. The bus fare for one zone is 200 baisa while shifting from one zone to another, amounts to 300 baisa. So the fare in the city bus is based on zone and not on distance.