Oman earmarks $176mn for roads, utilities

Oman on Saturday signed off on 39 projects worth a total of $176.6 million to modernise roads and water utility infrastructure across the country.

The utility projects include construction of a dam to protect against flash floods in Salalah in the in Dhofar region, as well as the design and implementation of environmental services utilities for a number of water springs and viewing sites.

Flash floods are common in Oman due to the dry river channels, or wadis, that run down from the country’s mountainous regions.

At least 49 people were killed when Cyclone Gonu hit Oman’s coast in June, causing flooding cross much of the country.

The government also gave the green light for a 515-kilometres roads project in the regions of Southern Batinah, North-Southern Sharqiyah and Dakhiliyah, and for the installation of 985 lighting posts in several provinces in the Dakhiliyah region.

Shaikh Abdullah bin Salim al Rowas, Minister of Regional Municipalities, Environment and Water Resources, said the investment reflected the government’s commitment to provide all provinces with the required infrastructure to cater for the country’s economic expansion.

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