Make drivers take breaks, curb accidents

A major step has been initiated to combat driver fatigue during long drives and reduce the possibility of fatal accidents on highways and expressways.

The Ministry of Housing has invited bids for setting up seven integrated fuel station complexes on two important highways: Al Batinah Expressway and accident-prone Adam-thamrait road that connects Muscat and Salalah.

“These facilities are need of the hour, especially on the Salalah road, as motorists will be tempted to take short breaks and relax,” said Saleh al Balushi, a project manager who often goes on long drives to Salalah, Marmul, Al Duqm and Al Buraimi.

Plots will be allocated on both sides of Al Batinah Expressway in Al Suwaiq, on the right side in Saham and the left side in Liwa. On the Adam-thamrait road, plots will be allocated in Ghaftin (Haima) and Haima City Centre and Mukhyznah.

The facilities will also include rest rooms, mosque, shopping centre, car service centre, restaurant, parks and parking lots. Applicants should not own a fuel station anywhere in the country. The bidding will be open from December 4 to January 6. The last date for submitting bids is January 20. Similar projects have been planned on Al Sharqiyah Expressway and Sur-quriyat highway.

The ministry had constituted a committee comprising officials from the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Supreme Planning Council for setting conditions and determining the price of bids.

The highway route has been approved by the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC). The distance between each station should not be less than 50 km.

BIDS INVITED FOR SEVEN INTEGRATED FUEL STATION COMPLEXES UP ON AL BATINAH EXPRESSWAY AND ADAM-THAMRAIT ROAD