Schools, offices closed to ease jam in Muscat

Muscat: Schoolchildren and government workers were given a half day off yesterday to help ease congestion in Muscat.
Drivers had been advised to monitor roads and the traffic situation before leaving for home on Wednesday and traffic control operations in the capital resulted in delays. Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) told staff and students to leave early for the day as their campus access was affected by traffic operations due
to a number of events in and around Muscat.
Most schools and government departments also chose to close at lunchtime. Indian schools in Muscat told parents to collect their children at 1:30pm.
Hassan Rouhani, President of Iran arrived on a one-day visit to the Sultanate to meet with His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, according to a statement issued by the Diwan of Royal Court. He left late on Wednesday afternoon to head to Kuwait on the next leg of his tour.
The Tour of Oman cycle race also affected traffic between Nakhal and Al Bustan. Motorists using Sultan Qaboos Highway were delayed as the president’s convoy travelled to the airport.
The Chairman of the board of directors of Indian Schools in Oman confirmed that all Indian schools were asked to close by 1:30pm on Wednesday.