Thursday 25 / April / 2024
Muscat: Municipal authorities have begun major transformations in the Muttrah area after remodelling 34 buildings, conducting maintenance work for 200 more, and beginning operations for the new fish market.
“We have already identified the company who will manage the fish market,” an official from the Muscat Municipality said.
The new fish market will also have a fruits and vegetables section, a coffee shop and a seafood restaurant and will boost trade and tourism activities in the area.
Located close to the Port Sultan Qaboos, which has now been declared a tourism port, the well-planned new Muttrah fish market is expected to attract tourists, who visit Oman in the cruise ships.
“We are sure that it will become one of the iconic landmarks of Muscat and the trial run will begin very soon,” the official said.
The ground floor of the market will be spread over 1,410 square metres (sqm) will have space for 120 fish stalls and another 40 stalls dedicated to the cutting and cleaning of the fishes.
Another 810 sqm has been set aside for 106 fruit and vegetable stalls. Then there will be shops selling meat and poultry.
The new fish market will also feature fish landing, refrigeration, preparation, packaging, storage area, offices for staff and coffee shops.
“Apart from all these facilities, the fish market has been made in such a way so as to keep public health and high standards of hygiene in mind,” said the official.
The market will also have parking places to accommodate more than 100 vehicles. “Right now, parking is a nightmare in the fish market. Besides that the market is so crowded that you can hardly stand on the weekends,” said Suraj, an Indian expat, who visits the Muttrah fish market every Friday.
The new project is coming up near the fish market that was built in 1960.
“The General Directorate of the Municipality of Muscat strives to provide a service for its visitors, through which it can provide services and facilitate transaction procedures on the one hand, while continuing to develop infrastructure projects and service facilities within the jurisdiction of the Muscat Municipality in general. The municipality’s goal is making Muscat beautiful for all of us,” the municipality stated.
The removal of visual deformities, pest and rodent control, along with controlling the sale and circulation of foodstuffs, regulating and cleaning markets, addressing the effects of rainfall, runoff of valleys and reefs are just a few ways the municipality will help revamp the area.
The agency will also start monitoring illegal holdings and raising awareness in the community about the protection and maintenance of public utilities.
“During the past year, the Directorate of Muttrah carried out a number of remodelling and development projects in Wilayah, including the beautification of Qantab and Al Bustan. This was done through the installation of interlocking tiles and concrete edges in an area of 12,578 sq m in the town of Qantab, with an area of 4,200 sq m in Al Bustan,” the municipality said.
Muscat Municipality constructed more than 13 concrete chairs in the of Wilayat Muttrah, as well as demolished 14 inhabitable houses in various areas. The General Directorate of the Municipality of Muscat activated major field follow ups during the first half of 2017.
The total number of health violations was 254; the total number of technical violations was 1946, and the Directorate recorded only six administrative violations.
“There were 264 buildings under construction, along with remodelling of 34 other buildings in the area,” the municipality stated.
The Directorate also carried out safety food inspections for safety, with a focus on public health. It conducted inspection tours for a number of restaurants, cafes, grills and juice shops in the Wilayat. “247 inspections were carried out for 681 restaurants and cafes, 71 bakeries and sweet shops were inspected, while 209 grocery stores were also visited,” the municipality said.
A total of 471 kilograms of fish, meat, poultry, vegetables, fruits and 140 kilograms of miscellaneous foodstuffs were destroyed by the municipality.
