Private sector invited to build first trucks-only toll road

Private sector invited to build first trucks-only toll road

Muscat – The Ministry of Finance (MoF), in cooperation with the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, is inviting private sector companies to bid for a qualification tender to build the sultanate’s first toll road – Salalah-Thumrait Truck Road (STTR).

The 67km project, to be developed in public-private partnership (PPP), will be the first of its kind in Oman specifically for heavy vehicles.

A statement issued by MoF said, ‘As part of efforts to involve the private sector in partnership projects and with the aim of investing in infrastructure projects and public services, the ministry invites companies wishing to design, construct, finance, operate and maintain the Salalah-Thumrait Truck Road.’

The deadline for submission of bids is May 4.

The decision elicited positive reactions from citizens and experts. “This is an excellent step to stimulate commercial activities and increase investments,” Nasser al Hosani, Director of Happy Line Transportation, told Muscat Daily.

“The road will revitalise Salalah Port and neighbouring wilayats and help stimulate export and import traffic. The road will be equipped with scales to monitor the load on trucks, preventing these from transporting any extra load that can damage the road,” Hosani added.

Sultan al Rawahi, a truck driver, said the new road will reduce