Turkish construction giant Yuksel said work was moving at a steady pace on the SR1.9-billion ($506 million) Saudi Bus Rapid Transit project which involves construction of 34 stations, 1,353 bus stops and six pedestrian bridges in the capital Riyadh.

The leading international contractor has mobilized more than 4,500 workers after breaking ground for the major development, reported Arab News.

On completion, the project, which comes as part of the ambitious King Abdul Aziz Transport System plan, is set to transform the face of the kingdom's capital. It is being powered and supported by Ar-Riyadh Development Authority (ADA), said the report, citing a senior company official.

The project will boast several bus terminals, passenger hubs, parking facilities and maintenance depots, revealed Ahmet Halavuk, the general manager of Yuksel.

“Well-planned and delivered BRT systems with clean buses can provide metro-quality service at a fraction of the cost… this will result in an enormous shift from private cars to public transportation in Riyadh,” said Halavuk, expressing his optimism about substantial improvement in traffic management.

The project will also serve as feeder lines for the metro stations being built in the capital and its suburbs to ease worsening traffic congestion, he noted.

"As is typical of BRT systems, the new line would allow rush-hour buses to travel in bus-only lanes — specifically highway shoulder lanes with the aim of reducing traffic period and easing the time to commute," explained Halavuk.

"The new lines, along with the new transport information management system included in the overall project, will improve accessibility to public transport," said the senior official.

Every element of the BRT project will be contributing to more efficient, more sustainable and greener transport future for Riyadh, he added.

A market leader in the construction of dams, marine structures, transport systems and industrial projects worldwide, Yuksel has, so far, completed 40 projects in Saudi Arabia worth over SR10 billion ($2.6 billion) including pipelines, universities, dams, roads and hospitals.