Muscat – Muscat Municipality has launched a public awareness campaign titled ‘Aathar’ to highlight the impact of abandoned vehicles in public places and encourage residents not to leave vehicles unattended for extended periods.

The campaign seeks to raise awareness of how abandoned vehicles can affect the use of parking spaces, the appearance of neighbourhoods and overall cleanliness.

The municipality said that while an abandoned vehicle may appear to be a simple issue, repeated cases can have a wider impact on public spaces and the urban appearance of neighbourhoods.

The campaign encourages residents to play an active role in maintaining public areas and to avoid practices that could contribute to their deterioration or affect their proper use. It also calls on the public to report abandoned vehicles when identified, helping the municipality address such cases.

Emphasising that caring for the city is a shared responsibility, the campaign highlights how individual behaviour can leave a lasting ‘Aathar’ (impact) on public spaces.

“Let us preserve our public spaces and make caring for the city a daily behaviour and a shared responsibility,” the municipality said.

Leaving vehicles unattended for an extended period violates Administrative Decision No. 171/2018, which regulates neglected vehicles in public places in Muscat Governorate.

Under the decision, the municipality can tow abandoned vehicles from public places at the owner’s expense 14 days after a warning notice has been placed on the vehicle.

The municipality said it would not be responsible for any damage caused to the vehicle during the towing process or while it is being moved to the designated yard.