Muscat – In order to encourage private sector to invest in infrastructure projects, the Ministry of Finance (MoF) is inviting Expression of Interest from the private sector to build a road for trucks from Salalah to Thumrait under a public private partnership (PPP) agreement.

The Salalah-Thumrait Truck Road (STTR) – the first of its kind in Oman – will be a 67km road, specifically for heavy vehicles and will be the sultanate’s first road to implement toll system.

‘In order to encourage the private sector to invest in infrastructure projects and public services, MoF, in coordination with the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, seeks to engage the private sector in the design, construction, finance, operation and maintenance of STTR,’ MoF said.

The last date for submission of bids is December 19.

In the Budget 2020 statement, MoF had stated that one of the key projects to be implemented will be an additional expressway alongside the existing Salalah-Thumrait road. ‘Trucks will be obliged to pay a service fee to use the expressway.’

In March this year, H E Said bin Hamoud al Ma’awali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, had clarified that toll road system will not be implemented on existing roads used by regular passengers.

To a query by Majlis A’Shura, H E Ma’awali said, “Alternative roads for trucks will not cause any financial burden on citizens. The focus will be on trucks only.”