Oman seeks contractors for US$ 965 million road

Oman's Ministry of National Economy has invited tenders to build a 240 km coastal road. The budget for the scheme is put at US$ 965 million.

The ministry says it has received expressions of interest from 33 construction companies, including local contractors. Economy minister Ahmed Mekki has said that the project will be funded from government reserves.

However, the coastal road has attracted criticism in some quarters. Some 11000 people are expected to be displaced by construction work, and the cost of building the 2200 new homes for them has been put as high as US$ 384 million.