Planning of National Transport Infrastructure
In the Islamic Countries
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4. Conclusions and Recommendations
This chapter presents a summary of the key findings of the study. In addition, this chapter
provides recommendations and identifies prioritized possible policy options to implement these
recommendations using the framework developed in the literature review chapter. The
recommendations build upon the analysis of the previous chapters and aim to provide a
concrete basis for understanding the national transport infrastructure planning in the OIC
region.
4.1. Conclusions
Conclusions are drawn based on the literature review and the six case studies, following the
framework areas that have been used in the previous chapters. Furthermore, a survey was
carried out to determine the general status of transport infrastructure planning in OIC countries.
The sampling frame represents all three OIC regions. The survey instrument is contained in
Appendix 2.
4.1.1. NTI Planning Aspects in OIC Countries
At the outset it is commented that NTI Planning is facing a paradigm shift in thinking from being
a list of infrastructure projects that maximise mobility to a more thematic set of the objectives
that emphasise outcomes that aim to decouple transport from the economy aligned to the
sustainable development goals. Mostly, the case studies showed that planning has taken place
in a policy vacuum, which has allowed a more ad hoc, and project orientated approach. Line
Ministries are required to implement works rather than study, research and formulate policy.
The risks of over-spending to create massive transport infrastructure that is out of sync with the
demands of the economy are great. Why set up a 20th century transport system based on mass
transit of goods and people for the 21st century of high tech where logistics will be increasingly
robotic and workers travelling to huge offices in CBDs will be considered Jurassic! Needed in a
future age is a more circumspect, judicious and smarter planning. Fundamental questions can
be asked of policy that cannot be asked of projects once decisions have been made. The main
message from the research is the long-term transport projects need long-term policies to guide
them.
The general situation of NTI planning practices in the OIC countries for each of the seven NTI
planning aspects is outlined as follows:
1. Political and legislation factors
 Unlike in Africa and the Middle East, the countries in the Asian OIC region tend to not
having a long-term national transport master plan. The Asian practice seems to be more
successful as it performs better than those who have a national transport master plan
(NTMP). The transport infrastructure development planning in Asia is included in a
medium-term plan that covers all types of infrastructure, not only transport. This
medium-term plan serves mostly as a strategic policy tool to realise the national
government’s vision, based on which a medium-term transport infrastructure sectoral
program is developed. The advantage of a medium term plan is that the planning and
implementation can be undertaken in a well structured and consequent way. Long term