Oman will soon start work on the first line of its ambitious railway project connecting Buraimi to Sohar and also award contracts for key road projects as part of its plans to boost the sultanate's transport sector, said a report.

A number of important roads will be thrown open to public, including new parts of Bidbid-Sur, Batinah Expressway (Muscat-Barka), reported the Oman Observer, citing Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Futaisi, Minister of Transport and Communications.
 
Contract will be also awarded for the roads that connect the Batinah Expressway and the first and second phase of Adam-Thumrait dual carriageway, stated Dr Ahmed.

The ministry will also introduce the Road Management System to ensure proper and efficient maintenance of the major assets built by the sultanate over the past four decades, he added.

The minister said a new bulk liquid berths terminal will be opened this year, which will add value to the existing services at the Sohar Port.

On the airport infrastructure projects, Dr Ahmed said his ministry will do its best to see that 90 per cent of the work at Muscat International Airport is completed by the end of the year. Of these works, the most important is the completion of the passenger terminal at the airport.

The year will also see the completion of the remainder packages of the airport projects, including the opening of Salalah Airport, the third package of the passenger terminal at Muscat Airport, the integrated IT network, connecting Muscat and Salalah airports, in addition to the data and information centre, it added.