Over 900 abandoned vehicles towed away

Muscat Municipality is removing the abandoned cars as they are a constant eyesore for residents and ruin the look of the city

Times News Service

MUSCAT: Nearly 950 cars were towed away by Muscat Municipality from two wilayats in 2018, as the authority continues to increase its efforts to reduce the numbers of abandoned vehicles.

According to Muscat Municipality, a total of 942 vehicles were towed in Wilayats Muttrah and Baushar in the governorate of Muscat last year, most of them from Wadi Kabeer and the industrial area of Ghala.

Abandoned cars are a constant eyesore for residents as they ruin the look of the city. The vehicles are often seen gathering dust close to mosques, car workshops and in public car parks.

Yesterday, April 7, Royal Oman Police towed away several abandoned vehicles in northern Al Mabaila area of Seeb, Muscat Municipality has said.

The Municipality previously announced that the Directorate General would be setting up a parking lot for abandoned cars in an attempt to deal with this issue.

Throughout the year, Muscat Municipality carries out many campaigns to clear public areas of abandoned vehicles. The Royal Oman Police also hold auctions for the sale of the abandoned vehicles that are not reclaimed after a set period. The abandonment of vehicles for prolonged periods is a public place is a violation of Traffic law, punishable by a fine of OMR200 if imposed for vehicles and buses or OMR400 if the abandoned vehicle is a truck.

In addition, the owner of the vehicle is liable to a fine of OMR5 for each day they delay collecting the abandoned vehicle from the reservation site.

An abandoned vehicle will have a notice sticker placed on it and, within seven days, checks on the vehicle will begin, leading to it being towed and detained within 14 days.

So far this year, Muscat Municipality - in cooperation with the Royal Oman Police- has carried out at least six campaigns in Wilayat Seeb to clear abandoned vehicles.

“Abandoned cars spoil the landscape and affect the flow of traffic in some places by taking up spaces other drivers could be using” Muscat Municipality said.