Oman tourism: Muscat Municipality presents Muttrah redevelopment project design

Muscat: An artist's impression of Muttrah's multi-million rial redevelopment project has been drawn by the Muscat Municipality which shows different parts of the port after its beautification plan is complete.
At a gathering in Muttrah Hall, with participations from locals, Muscat Municipality presented the initial, public design of the Muttrah redevelopment project in the presence of Saud Al Busaidi, the state minister and governor of Muscat and Sayyid Ahmed Al Busaidi, Wali of Muttrah and Chairman of the Municipal Council of Muttrah as well as members of the Shura Council and State Council.
The principal aim of the project is to enhance the services by redeveloping residential areas and surrounding walkways. Expanding the current service roads is on the list as well as adding necessary facilities such as sewage treatment network and rain drainage system.
Other services such as providing enough parking spaces and creating new entry and exit points to the city to reduce congestions including providing ambulance and civil defence service when the necessity arises.
The project also aims to preserve Oman’s historic and cultural identity and protect Muttrah Souq’s historical significance. Old buildings will be kept intact and preserved to prevent it from collapsing.
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A study is being conducted to possibly transform some old homes and buildings for commercial use such as hotels, handicraft exhibition halls, and Omani restaurants and cafés.
The project will encourage internal tourism as well as external since converting Sultan Qaboos Port into a tourism hub from cruise liners, the Sultanate has welcomed over 4,000 tourists from every ship that has docked.
Engineer Al Tayyib Al Harthi, Head of the Technical Studies Department at Muscat Municipality and Project Head, said, “The plan to redevelop Muttrah is focused on providing the locals with healthier environment to live in which will in turn make Muttrah more attractive to the visitors as well as preserving the Omani heritage and culture.”