Makkah Region Development Authority (MRDA) is vigorously going ahead with the Phase One of the bus project coming up under the kingdom's ambitious Makkah Mass Rail Transit public transport project despite the Covid-19 pandemic, reported Saudi Gazette.
 
The integrated public transport system consists of four metro lines along with a network of shuttle, local and express buses which would contribute to reducing pollution and protecting the environment throughout the region.
 
Being implemented by Makkah Mass Rail Transit Company, the first phase of the bus project consists of 12 lanes, including seven lanes for local buses with a length of 172 km and 347 stations; and five lanes for express buses with a length of 103 km and 103 stations.
 
According to authorities nearly 30 per cent of the comprehensive main bus station project has been completed.
 
Spread over a total of 320,000 sq m area, the project consists of the control building, administration building for drivers, a fuel station, a light maintenance workshop, a heavy maintenance workshop and the main headquarters of the project.
 
Around 116,000 sq m of the area has been earmarked for the bus operating facilities, said the report.
 
The Makkah Public Transport Project accounts for 400 buses, including 240 regular ones and 160 articulated buses, while the project facilities include four central stations, seven bridges, 11 smart intersections and 455 stops.
 
MRDA said it has completed 22 per cent of the infrastructure work on the first phase of the ambitious public transport project.
 
The project is aimed at catering to the growing transportation needs of the Saudi city after taking into account the expected growth in the population and the growing number of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims and visitors, said the Saudi Gazette report.
 
The Makkah Mass Rail Transit project will help boost the economic development of the Saudi city through provision of easy access to the Grand Mosque as well as to the educational, employment, health, commercial and recreational facilities all over the city, it stated.
 
The system would be a sustainable one in the heart of Makkah to develop it as a smart city, it added.

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