RIYADH – The Royal Commission for Riyadh City has specified Q2 2020 as the period for beginning operation of the King Abdulaziz Bus Public Transport Network in Riyadh City, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) quoted the Saudi Public Transport Company (SAPTCO) as saying Tuesday.

Commenting on the development, SAPTCO said that it has received a notification from the Public Transport Company, in which SAPTCO has an 80 percent stake, that a statement has been issued on the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) website, to this effect.

The company said that it is difficult at this stage to determine the costs of the project, as it is coordinating 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.

According to a 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.

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.