Oman's Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning has finalised the routes for the Muscat Metro, the capital city's first-ever mass transportation network. Plans are also in the works to perform a feasibility study for the Bausher-Al Amerat tunnel, as reported by the Omani News Agency.
These projects are part of the Greater Muscat Masterplan, encouraging deliberate urban expansion while also integrating space for landscaping and greenery.
FINAL STAGES OF THE MASTERPLAN
The Greater Muscat Masterplan is in its last phases of planning and design. After receiving permission from the appropriate authorities, the implementation phase will start early next year. Engineer Ibrahim Hamoud Al Waeli, the ministry's Executive Director of Urban Strategy, expressed that the master plan will help create an integrated and multi-modal transportation network. This will have an important role in improving Muscat's transportation and communication systems. So, its potential impact is comparable to the rail transport infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, helping to create a more interconnected city in Muscat.
KEY ELEMENTS OF MUSCAT METRO ROUTES
Many criteria form the basis of the Muscat Metro lines. These include accessibility and the availability of important stations situated around the city. According to Al Waeli, the metro extension will go beyond the specified lines. For example, express buses and other transport will integrate with the metro system.
LAND USE PLANNING FOR ECONOMIC SECTORS
Land use planning for various economic sectors is also part of the Greater Muscat Masterplan. The plan backs the notion of "economic blocs" with unique focuses. Knowledge Oasis Muscat, Sultan Qaboos University, and Al Rusayl compose the "innovation and knowledge bloc". Another sector, the "industrial and logistic sectors bloc," includes Khazaen, Ruwi, Al Misfah, and Al Rusayl. The strategy also includes a "tourism and economy bloc," which includes Muscat, Muttrah, Al Khoudh, the Airport zone, and the food industries sector in Barka.
OVERALL IMPACT OF MUSCAT’S METRO SYSTEM
Oman's Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning is making strong progress on the Muscat Metro and the Greater Muscat Masterplan. The completed metro lines and the proposed feasibility study for the Bausher-Al Amerat tunnel are major milestones toward constructing a modern mass transport network. The master plan's emphasis on urban expansion, open areas, and the integration of diverse economic sectors will contribute to the capital city's growth and development.
