(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Muscat- Mwasalat carried more than 3.7mn passengers from January 1 to December 31 last year on all routes in Muscat governorate and through its intercity lines.
The company said that it carried on an average more than 10,000 passengers a day and more than 16,000 on Fridays.
Ruwi-Ma'abela route tops list
With regard to the total number of passengers transported in Muscat, the Ruwi-Ma'abela route tops the list at more than 1,500,000, followed by the Ruwi-Wadi Kabir route at more than 800,000, the Ruwi-Muttrah-Qasr-al-Ilm route at more than 370,000, the Ruwi-Amerat route at more than 290,000, the Ruwi-Wadi Adai route at more than 265,000 while the Al Khoudh-SQU-Burj Sahwa Tower route saw more than 100,000 passengers being transported.
Regarding service to various governorates across Oman and Dubai in UAE, the company transported 277,039 passengers.
Regarding Omani passengers, Mwasalat conducted a survey between December 1, 2016 and January 8, 2017, the maximum Omani passengers (45 per cent) was on the Ruwi-Ma'abela route. Omani passengers during the survey period was more than 30 per cent.
Purchase of buses
Mwasalat is in talks with its partners and bus suppliers on financing options to buy 118 buses. Eighty-five of these buses would operate in the Governorate of Muscat and 33 on intercity lines including replacing old buses used in these routes.
Aim to reduce government support
Mwasalat seeks to reduce government support through continuous expansion of its operations and by forging partnerships with government and private sector firms such as advertisements on buses and finalising new strategic agreements in future.
The company has signed a number of pacts including a strategic partnership agreement with Omantel to provide free and unlimited Wi-Fi on its fleet, and other operators which will be enabled during the first quarter of this year on 57 buses in the first phase.
The company has signed another agreement with Be'ah to supply, operate and maintain buses as part of a mobile exhibition to raise awareness. It has also signed a pact with Oman Drydock Company under which it will be the official carrier of all company employees from Muscat to the company's headquarters in Duqm.
Ticket prices
With reference to the removal of government subsidies on fuel prices, Mwasalat states that ticket prices will remain the same, though there may be a review of prices in the near future.
Support to Muscat Festival
Mwasalat is encouraging Muscat Festival visitors to use its special services from Ruwi to Amerat Park and Ma'abela to Naseem Gardens with trip every 20 minutes between 3.15pm and 11.10 pm daily.
Meeting on Public Transport
Mwasalat will host the Seventh Meeting of the International Association of Public Transport in the Middle East and North Africa at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre in mid-February.
It will discuss latest developments concerning transportation sector, planning and implementation of public transport system, understanding of accounts and transaction costs, as well as learning about the latest technical innovations in the sector.
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