Transportation woes in Muscat

Muscat: Muscat is not known for traffic snarls as many capitals in the world. It was widely said that one could travel from any Point X to Point Y in the city within 15 to 20 minutes, but that privilege enjoyed by the local population of the city seems to be soon becoming a ‘thing’ of the past.

The traffic-prone locations in the city are Maabela, Al Mouj Roundabout (November 18 Road) and Sarooj, Darsait Heights and Burj Al Sahwa.

Over the past 15 years or so, the city has been developing towards north Bausher and Maabela, with many commercial establishments shifting their main offices from the CBD area in Ruwi and Wadi Kabir to Ghala and places surrounding Airport Heights.

The trend started with the relocation of the commercial port activities from Muttrah to Suhar.

According to some experts and long-term road users, “Vehicle density has increased over the past decades with salaries going up and loans becoming affordable and easier to purchase a vehicle, especially the used ones. The road network has expanded, and public transport improved, but not in pace with the changing demographics.” While public transportation has improved since 2015 with the rebranding of the Oman National Transport Company to Mwasalat, it has not matured enough to switch vehicle users to buses.

“Mwasalat has over ten routes in Muscat and one can notice buses on some routes being operated with almost zero occupancy. This is because buses operate on main roads, and a traveller will again have to depend on a taxi or a private car to reach closer to his destination,” said a government official associated with the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Information Technology (MoTCIT).

The transport system may get a boost with the Muscat Metro project, coinciding with the development of many new smart townships liked the Sultan Haitham City, but it is still a decade away.

Studies conducted by a consultancy for a metro in the capital will be completed later this year.

The upgradation of the public transport system will be key as the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning embarks on the Greater Muscat Development Plan, which will focus on making the capital easy to navigate with the provision of an integrated network.

The taxi system has improved with the arrival of private on-demand services, but efforts to streamline the Orange and White Street operators have hit a roadblock, with many drivers refusing to operate under companies and with the meter.

Lack of progress on the public transport front means, regular travellers have to depend on private or rental vehicles to meet their daily commuting needs, which is adding burden on the existing road networks.

Roads have been widened as per the need of the hour at many places, but their construction only adds to traffic congestion. “In some areas widening is not possible because of the terrain and we will find four lanes merging into two, adding to traffic woes and ultimately leading to minor or major accidents,” said a daily commuter.

It may be noted that Muscat is still ranked as the best Arab city in terms of traffic, according to research firm Numbeo.

Muscat was ranked 185th in the world in terms of the most crowded city traffic-wise. It was ranked as the least crowded in the Arab world in this regard, and the best in terms of traffic.