Electronic meters in all Muscat taxis from June 2019

Al Yarubi said, “Taxi operators will be given a grace period to address the issues related to vehicle engine capacity, age of the vehicle and specific requirements for the driver.

“All unlicensed taxis or transport services, including those managed by expatriates, are prohibited under the new law. The new regulations are expected to help regulate the labour market in the transport sector, improve the level of Omanisation and address concerns of the public transport raised by the tourism industry.”

A project for developing an online system for issuing/renewing licenses for commercial vehicles started in July. It will continue in five phases, including for issue of foreign/special permits from January, to be followed by a phase-wise inspection of commercial vehicles.

As per the international standards for road transport, a new system will ensure the trucks follow the maximum limit for payloads as per the operational permit.

Truck weigh bridges, to be established on Batinah Expressway in cooperation with a private company, will operate 24 hours.

New sites will be allotted for weighing stations on Batinah Expressway (in Shinas towards Muscat), two in Suhar (both directions), two in Suwaiq (both directions) and one station in Barka towards Suhar. Parking lots for trucks will be provided in Suhar in the first stage and an investor will be named by the year-end. The second phase will be implemented in Barka, Adam and Haima and Thamrait.