Muscat – A major expansion of Muscat Expressway will begin as part of a wider plan to reduce traffic congestion in the capital, with the tender for the project expected to be awarded in the coming weeks, according to the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology.
H E Saeed bin Hamood al Mawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, said the project is in the final stages of tendering and is expected to be awarded within one to two weeks at the most. The expansion will take around 36 weeks and will increase the expressway to six lanes in each direction.
The minister said the project has undergone re-engineering to address existing traffic bottlenecks, including entry and exit points, to ensure smoother traffic movement and long-term capacity improvements.
He added that work has already begun on the expansion of Al Mouj Road and a connected stretch of November 18 Street. The project is expected to be completed within 30 months and will further support traffic flow across Muscat.
Delivery drivers
H E Mawali also said the ministry has developed a plan to regulate the movement of delivery drivers in the capital as part of wider efforts to manage traffic and support economic activity.
Oman’s online food delivery market is valued at more than RO100mn annually, reflecting its growing economic weight, he said. Muscat governorate alone has around 6,000 delivery service workers, making the sector a significant contributor to employment and urban mobility.
He said operational disruptions in the sector recently had a widespread impact on drivers, restaurants and consumers, prompting government intervention to stabilise the market and limit economic disruption.
As part of the response, authorities restructured the regulatory framework by licensing nine intermediary service providers to manage delivery operations, instead of the platforms themselves, to improve accountability and provide legal protection for workers.
The ministry also issued permits for around 2,000 motorcycles, introducing a requirement to employ 20 Omanis for every 200 motorcycles licensed. The measures included correcting the employment status of workers whose arrangements were not compliant with regulations.
H E Mawali said the reforms have helped create job opportunities, protect workers’ rights and support Omani-owned small and medium-sized enterprises, while maintaining service continuity. He added that encouraging motorcycle deliveries also contributes to reducing emissions and easing traffic congestion within the city.
