New online transport system to ensure safety of drivers, vehicles

MUSCAT: A new online platform for transport services will ensure fairness and regulatory control to service providers, and also reduce hidden trade in the sector, according to Dr. Ahmed Al Futaisi, the Minister of Transport and Communications.

Under the patronage of the minister, the ministry inaugurated the National Electronic Platform for Transport Services, naql, which will be operational from December 1, 2019. According to the ministry, this e-platform will include a tracking system to ensure the safety of driver and vehicle.

Transport platform

Al Futaisi said in: “We are proud to launch a transport platform as the first electronic platform specialising in transport services, which includes an integrated database, regulatory control, follow-up of compliance with transport laws, ensuring speed in the provision of services, a system for tracking the movement of vehicles and their routes for companies to follow, and link-up of platform with truck weighing stations.”

The platform will offer many services, including obtaining of vehicle operation cards and granting of licences and permits to workers involved in land transport activities for both individuals and institutions.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications said: “The national platform for transport services has been linked to the vehicle registration system of the Royal Oman Police and the Invest Easy system in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to verify the details of land transport and its licenced activities for individuals and establishments.”

Tracking movement

The ministry added: “In the process of building the road transport database by registering with the platform and extracting the operating cards, the technical work will be started in phases, which will include activating the service of tracking movement of vehicles and routes for the institutions and linking the platform with the truck weighing stations.”

Tracking service

“The activation of the tracking service is to ensure the safety of driver and vehicle, and to monitor the extent of compliance with the requirements of the Transport Law,” the ministry confirmed.

“No activity in the road transport sector will be licenced until it is registered on the platform.” Dr. Ahmed Al Futaisi explained: “The platform is a real and effective beginning to regulate the land transport sector in the Sultanate and to implement the regulations stipulated in the Land Transport Law.

The platform has been developed and designed by an Omani SME, which will be responsible for its operation and maintenance.”