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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Bus network expanding to new popular areas

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MUSCAT, May 20 - The capital’s bus network system has got a major boost with the opening of several new routes, including the inter-city services. Last week, the company opened a new route connecting the two key areas of Muscat, the Al Mouj – November 18 and the Al Khuwair area.


“This route is important because commuters here largely depend on taxis, which can be very expensive. Initially, frequencies of the buses will be limited, but at least passengers will have an option in the coming days,” said a manager of a popular hotel in the area that will be served by the new service.


Similarly, Al Khuwair is one of the popular leisure destinations in Muscat due to several top hotels, shopping malls and restaurants of all types. “Having a bus route on these areas will certainly help the budget-conscious tourists who get often discouraged by high transportation costs,” said Helen, a staff at one of the regular hotels in Al Khuwair. According to sources, Mwasalat will soon launch routes connecting the fast developing areas of Athaiba and Ansab.


In the recent years since its rebranding, the company has also launched services, especially to tourist places like Musannah, Masirah and Khasab (bus-ferry). As part of its expansion, the company had signed agreements for 98 new buses, including 65 buses for the city services.


The company had mentioned that Muscat will be covered with 17 routes over a period of time, connecting landmarks such as Royal and Khoula Hospitals.


There are also plans to extend two of the current routes (Ruwi-Muttrah and Ruwi-Wadi Kabir) to Al Bustan area in the coming months.


The public transport buses will be also equipped with electronic reservation and tracking systems that allow the user to track the bus until it arrives.


Vinod Nair


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