05 October 2010
JEDDAH: Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal on Monday announced his administration's plans to implement a number of vital projects in the province, including a SR21 billion tram system linking the various residential districts of Jeddah.

He said the trams would pass through 12 main streets in the city, adding that the annual operation cost of the new system would reach SR370 million. Trams are part of a new general transport system to be introduced by the Transport Ministry.

"The Ministry of Transport has a plan to operate 816 buses to link the city's various districts as part of the new plan," the governor said. He did not say when the new project would become a reality. The new system includes commuter and tourist trains.

Transport Minister Jabara Al-Seraisry had earlier made a presentation to the governor on his ministry's plans to develop public transport in Jeddah. The project will be carried out in three phases.

The new public transport system, which includes monorails, buses and trams linking Jeddah's residential districts, will bring about a revolution in the city's traffic system. The project also involves 201 stations and dozens of tramcars.

The plan for developing Jeddah's public transport system was prepared by Canada's IBI group, which provides a full range of services related to the movement of people, goods and information within and between transport facilities.

Through the application of technology and information, IBI offers intelligent transport plans and advanced public transport solutions to efficiently manage and operate transportation systems.

Jeddah's transport system will also include a metro similar to the one being established in the capital Riyadh.

The metro will consist of three lines, including one connecting the Old Makkah Road to Sari Street, the second running along Prince Majed Street from King Abdulaziz International Airport to the site of the old airport, and a third along Palestine Road.

Construction work began on the metro in Riyadh last November. The light rail system will have 36 stations, with the first phase involving the building of the 25-km link between the north and south of the city, with the second phase seeing the construction of a 14-km line from east to west.

Prince Khaled also spoke about Jeddah's housing requirements. Quoting a recent study, he said the city required 953,000 housing units for the next 20 years.

"This target can be achieved by establishing low-cost houses in phases. Jeddah Development Company has plans to construct 50,000 housing units in the northern and southern parts of Jeddah," the prince said.

The governor disclosed plans to establish more recreational facilities in the city. "Efforts are under way to establish 150 parks in various parts of the city," he said, adding that Jeddah required 15.74 million square meters of green space, double what was already in the city.

He said the Jeddah Mayoralty was constructing a number of bridges, tunnels and underpasses at a cost of SR5 billion to remove traffic bottlenecks in various parts of the city. A new bridge linking northern and southern Obhur would be constructed to facilitate traffic.

By P.K. ABDUL GHAFOUR

© Arab News 2010