Riyadh Metro to raise public transport usage to 20%: Royal Commission CEO

Riyadh Metro, which is set to begin operations this year, will improve the city’s transportation system and increase public transport usage to 20% from 1%, Fahd Al Rasheed, CEO of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC), told Al Arabiya TV.

Speaking on the sidelines of the 2020 World Economic Forum in Davos, Al Rasheed said that the Kingdom's Vision 2030 targets 8% growth in population annually in the coming 10 years and turning Riyadh into a “megatropolis”, pointing out that the Saudi capital has witnessed an annual population growth of 4% over the past decades.

“This will be attained through various drivers, mainly the economic one through Qiddiya, Diriyah Gate, Riyadh Metro, and King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) projects, in addition to attracting global investments,” he said.

In addition, all pivotal projects will be implemented in Riyadh within the coming 5 years, Al Rasheed concluded.