New firm to oversee infra projects

Muscat, Dec 25 - The Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC) on Monday announced the launch of a new construction management company that will oversee all future infrastructure projects in the country. Initially, the new company, Insha, will oversee the construction of all tunnel projects in the country, including the Bidbid/Sur road. Insha will implement infrastructure projects and integrate with private companies to ensure their efficient execution. At the same time, it will tap the skills from within the Sultanate. A top official at Asyad said the new company will oversee only infrastructure projects, including airports, ports and roads, among others.An agreement was signed in this regard between the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC) and Oman Global Logistics (OGL) Group’s Asyad for the management of infrastructure projects. The agreement was signed by Salim bin Mohammed al Nuaimi, Undersecretary, MoTC, and Abdul Rahman bin Salim al Hatmi, CEO, Asyad. The agreement follows the recommendations made during national economic diversification programme, ‘Tanfeedh’. Nuaimi said that work is underway at the tunnels on the Bidbid-Sur road at Wadi al Uqq, which will now be under the supervision of Insha. He said the Diba-Lima-Khasab road needs more than eight tunnels, approximately about 1.5 km to 2 km long. The Batinah Expressway will be opened up to Wadi al Jizi in April 2018 and the government will float tenders for the four-lane Muscat-Bidbid Expressway next year.