Muscat: Oman is planning to build a 'sea bridge' to connect the Masirah Island on Oman's eastern coast with main land.
Oman's leader Sultan Qaboos Bin Saeed has ordered the government to initiate process for the 'sea bridge' to connect Masirah with the main land.
According to Ahmad Bin Abdul Nabi Macki, Minister of National Economy and Deputy Chairman of the Financial Affairs and Energy Resources, the 'sea bridge' would be built as soon as possible.
Masirah, with an area of about 649kmsq, is an island and vulnerable to natural disasters like tropical cyclones.
During the 2007 cyclone Gonu and this month's Phet storm in Oman's east coast, Masirah had to be vacated as it was in direct path of both the cyclones.
The 12,000 population in 12 villages on the island now use ferry service to go to the main land, which is about 31.4-km connecting Shannah town on the mainland in the east.
It is believed that once commissioned this bridge could be the costliest public infrastructure undertaken by the government as it would be built over the sea that is not so deep in most parts.
The country's leader has ordered Ministry of National Economy to prepare the necessary studies and choose the best possible international consulting firm for the design of the proposed bridge.
Macki said in a statement to Oman News Agency that the Ministry would work as quickly as possible to place the orders for the design of the bridge and its construction.
