Parts of South Sharqiyah move forward with development plans

Muscat: Plans to allocate 600,000 square metres of land for residential projects in Qalhat, and an additional 1.5 million square metres for agriculture in Al Kamil W’Al Wafi have been set into motion, as part of efforts to develop the Governorate of South Al Sharqiyah. The plans include a detailed structural setup for Masirah Island, said Issa bin Salem Al Hajri at the Directorate General of Housing and Urban Planning in South Al Sharqiyah.

“Through sustainable urban planning, the establishment of integrated modern cities, and real estate development programmes that provide new opportunities for housing, the Ministry of Housing and Urban planning aims to achieve comprehensive and sustainable development,” he said.

“This includes integrated residential neighbourhoods and other facilities that contribute to achieving social and economic stability, within the directives of the national urban strategy,” he added. “Through this, the ministry aims at comprehensive transformation, and improved work environment, and enhanced community awareness.”

The government has provided real estate developers and investors the opportunities to begin a number of projects, such as the ones listed above. Furthermore, as part of measures to better organise the real estate sector in the governorate, some 1,483 requests for proof of ownership and registration were completed. All of the 870 requests for housing assistance and social housing were also approved in 2021.

Another initiative being carried out is the identification of farmland and holdings belonging to their respective owners, as part of plans for an integrated agricultural scheme. Work teams have been formed to study the related technical and planning aspects. The possibilities of providing the services needed to rural areas on the coastline, in the desert, and mountainous regions have also been assessed.

To find out the needs of society, the Directorate General, in partnership with the local governor’s office, conducts a series of periodic seminars and workshops. A recent workshop on the urban strategy was organised in the governorate for the employees of the directorate, the walis of South Sharqiyah, Shura Council members, and officials in South Sharqiyah, North

Sharqiyah and Al Dakhiliyah who are involved in implementing the above plan.
The Directorate General also reaches out to segments of society, and government and private bodies, to find out their future needs in the fields of urban planning, social housing, real estate development, and other necessary projects, as part of efforts to achieve Oman Vision 2040.

With inputs from Oman News Agency