Saudi Arabia gears up for mega bus network operations in Q2
RIYADH, January 3, 2020
Saudi Public Transport Company (Saptco) is gearing up for the launch of its biggest transport infrastructure project - King Abdulaziz Bus Public Transport Network in Riyadh City - which begins its operations in the second quarter, said a report.
This comes following the go-ahead given by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, reported Saudi Gazette.
As per the decision taken by the Saudi Council of Ministers, a supreme committee will supervise the Riyadh Metro project and the construction of a parallel network for bus transport, in line with the Comprehensive Public Transport Plan laid down by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City.
The plan aims to provide public transport service to all categories of the population, diversifying the modes and means of transport in the city in an effective and suitable manner, keeping in mind the social, economic, environmental and traffic conditions, it stated.
The committee has started specifying the steps for carrying out the project, laying down the schedule for carrying it out, in the light of the studies, specifications, standards, designs, and tenders and execution documents, prepared beforehand by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City for the various elements of the project.
The project is expected to give the city a big boost, going beyond providing public transport service to all segments of the population, said the statement from Saptco, which has an 80 per cent stake in the Public Transport Company.
According to Saudi authorities, it is difficult at this stage to determine the costs of the project, as it is co-ordinating with other related authorities on studying the necessary work plans following which the project costs will be specified and they will be announced at the appropriate time.
