Muscat Municipality reviews the preparations for Muscat Festival and the efforts of National Transportation
• One bus saves 40 cars energy, cost, and pollution
• Study to link means of transportation through comprehensive public transportation system
• The Festival includes new and various events locally and internationally
Written by: Mahbouba Al Sabahiah
Picture by: Suliman Al Khusaiby
The National Transport Company confirmed that a single public transportation bus is equivalent to more than 40 cars relating to energy saving, gas emissions, noise, and accidents as well as what has been demonstrated in studies that buses reduces mortality rates results from road accidents by about 1500 deaths less per year, that the statement made by the company at the Municipal Council 11th meeting the second year for the first session under chairmanship of HE Eng. Mohsen bin Mohammed Al Shiekh, Chairman in presence of council members and number of national Transport Company officials, and members of Main Organization Committee of Muscat Festival 2015 that displayed a presentation on most significant activities and events of the festival upcoming session.
The National Transportation Company in its statement that the company achieves progress on in the implementation of a number of strategic projects that serve the march of public transport in Oman as part of its continuing efforts to develop the public transportation system in the Sultanate and provide effective solutions to reduce the rate of traffic jamming in the public streets. among these projects is to develop public transport buses specifications according to the international technical standards and in a way ensures the preservation of the environment in addition to finding new public transport buses.
The company also announced in its statement its participation in the preparation of an integrated study of the public transportation system in Muscat under the supervision of the Ministry of Transport and Communications through an international company specialized in the field of public transport global companies (INCO) and in coordination with the competent authorities, which are linking various means of transportation such as buses, taxis, ferries and trains to provide integrated solution of public transportation in Muscat and associated roads and routes.
In addition, the company has provided a comprehensive vision of main bus lines, feed lines, stops, main stations and approximate number required buses, etc. It also approached the benefits of public transportation and the major challenges faced with suggested solutions to overcome them.
On the other hand, the Main Organization Committee of Muscat Festival 2015 displayed a visual presentation to Council members on current preparations for the event, which will begin on 15 of next January, it reviewed the most important competences of sub-committees and support teams of the festival in addition to timings of events, and main associated activities.
The Committee also announced the most prominent events will be held in Al Naseem Park and Al Amerat Park where Dinosaurs Village will be held for the first time in Al Naseem Public Park which includes 15 3D models for dinosaurs, including static and moving ones in different sizes accompanied by acoustic and light effects. In addition to a variety of other events that complies with the various interests of audience segments, such as Consumer Exhibition, Entertainment Arts Park, Family Village, Education and Entertainment Corner, Nature Corner and a number of several events. Al Amerat Garden will include for the first time establish of Ice Collage, which includes snowy mountains, space of skating, and corridors containing 30 3D ice carvings, and cartoon characters (the polar bear, penguin, sea lion) in addition to the Heritage Village and Interactive Village, Crafts and Arts Exhibition, Entertainment shows and other several events.
The festival also includes a variety of cultural events, including poetic events and intellectual lectures and on air artistic shows and exhibitions like Omani Documents Exhibition, Astronomy Exhibition, Innovators Exhibition, Photographs Exhibition, and other specialized exhibitions. The festival will revive the spirit of competition and creativity among media talent in contests of best press coverage and short films about the city of Muscat.
The Council discussed in its meeting its proposed project on (Ghala- Al Jefnain) Dual Road expressed his observations and opinions taking into account the population claims to execute this vital project to coincide with the implementation of sewage treatment plant project that will be implemented by (Haya) company to serve the inhabitants of those areas Almesfah village, in Bawshar Province.
The Council Reviewed number of recommendations like: the recommendation of the Public Affairs Committee in its twelfth meeting on the financial statement of last Muscat Festival, the recommendation of the Health, Social and Environmental Affairs Committee at its eighth meeting on the draft of Cleanliness Department List in the governorate of Muscat, and the recommendation of the Legal Committee at its fourth meeting on the draft contract of Muscat Airport Taxi and a list of Penalties.
In a related context, the Council informed its members with number of topics, including the recommendation of the Council on the statement of the General Department for Combating Drugs and Psychotropic Substances and the recommendation of the Council on The Harms of Smoked and Chewed Tobacco.
