Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH – The official spokesman of the Ministry of Transport and adviser to the minister, Yasser Al-Misfir, has refuted media reports on the intention of the Ministry of Transport to impose a nominal fee on road users as of the beginning of 2020.

In a statement to Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Al-Misfir said “the subject of imposing a toll on road use is still under study. It is awaiting completion and it will not be ready to be carried out till 2020”.

This was also stated by the Minister of Transport Dr. Nabil Al-Amoudi during an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper last September.

The statement also said that “the Ministry of Transport reserves its full right to take legal measures against anyone who publishes false information thereby harming the ministry. These measures will be in line with the regulations in force in the Kingdom.”

Earlier reports said the ministry was mulling the introduction of toll on certain roads.

The ministry has set up a special team to undertake an in-depth study on the proposal, local newspapers reported.

The study is expected to be completed in early 2020 and will then be submitted to the supreme authority to make a final decision.

MinisterAl-Amoudi had earlier stated that the ministry was closely working with the traffic department to improve road safety and to reduce deaths and injuries due to accidents.

He also said five contracts worth SAR621m were signed for new projects relating to traffic safety across the Kingdom.

Overall, the ministry is executing 460 projects to develop the Kingdom’s transport sector.