Two ministries refuse HCDR requests

Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — The ministries of health and transport have refused to heed requests by the High Commission for the Development of Riyadh to delay their office hours by 90 minutes by starting work at 8.30 a.m. instead of 7.00 a.m., Makkah daily reported on Sunday quoting informed sources. The commission made the request with a view to relieving traffic congestion on Al-Wizarat (ministries) Street, which is the old airport road. Both the ministries are situated on this street. The sources said the commission made the proposal after conducting a thorough study that recommended freeing the street, on which a number of ministries are located, from traffic bottlenecks so as to ease the traffic flow especially in the mornings when all students and teachers go to their schools. They said the proposal was significant in the light of the traffic congestions created by the digging and detours for the construction of the Public Transport Project known as Riyadh Metro. The sources said the two ministries refused to budge and are still sticking to their old office timing. They said the command of the land forces has responded to the request and shifted its headquarters to another location. The sources said three international schools on King Abdul Aziz Street in the middle of Riyadh have responded to the request and delayed their school hours by 90 minutes.